Blood biomarkers and measures of pulmonary function--a study from the Swedish twin registry.
OBJECTIVE
There is great need of biomarkers for research and clinical purposes in COPD. This study explored the relationships between ten putative plasma biomarkers of COPD and physiological measures of reduced lung function.


METHODS
FEV(1), FVC, residual volume/total lung capacity (RV/TLC) and CO diffusion capacity (D(L)CO) were assessed in 357 subjects from the Swedish Twin Registry. The lung function measures were studied in relation to plasma levels of desmosines, C-reactive protein (CRP), plasminogen inhibitor activator (PAI-1) concentration and activity, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1), clara cell protein 16 (CC16), surfactant protein D (SPD), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and interleukin (IL)-8.


RESULTS
After adjustments for age, sex, height, BMI and smoking, FEV(1) was significantly associated with PAI-1 activity and desmosines. RV/TLC was significantly associated with CC16, PAI-1 concentration and PAI-1 activity, and D(L)CO was significantly associated with desmosines, TIMP-1 and CRP. When the multivariate analysis was restricted to subjects with COPD (i.e., FEV(1)/FVC < 0.70), CRP and desmosines were inversely associated with lung function.


CONCLUSIONS
Several biomarkers were associated with lung function in this cross-sectional study. Especially CRP and desmosines could be useful markers to assess disease severity in subjects with COPD.
AstraZeneca R&D, 43183 Mölndal, Sweden. Gunnar.Engstrom@astrazeneca.com
Gunnar
G
Engström
Claes
C
Lindberg
Maria
M
Gerhardsson de Verdier
Ulf
U
Nihlén
Martin
M
Anderson
Magnus
M
Svartengren
Kristina
K
Forsman-Semb
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012042:Registries; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
D015415:Biomarkers