title: High expression of high-mobility group box 1 in the blood and lungs is associated with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in smokers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an important mediator in multiple pathological conditions, but the expression of HMGB1 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not yet been completely investigated. We aimed to analyze the relationship between HMGB1 expression in blood and lung tissue and the development of COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight patients admitted for single pulmonary surgical intervention were enrolled. The expression of HMGB1 in blood and lung tissue was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis and immunohistochemistry stain, respectively. The study patients were divided into smokers with COPD (n = 11), smokers without COPD (n = 8) and non-smoker healthy controls (n = 9).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smokers with COPD compared with smokers without COPD and healthy controls were older in age, with lower post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity (FEV1 /FVC) ratio (63.1 ± 5.5 vs 77.6 ± 3.6 and 84.5 ± 5.8, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) and higher levels of plasma HMGB1 (93.2 ± 139.9 vs 7.3 ± 4.8 and 17.0 ± 19.6 ng/mL, P = 0.016 and P = 0.021, respectively). In smokers with COPD, the numbers and portion of HMGB1-expressing cells in epithelium and submucosal areas were significantly increased. Notably, plasma HMGB1 levels negatively correlated with post-bronchodilator FEV1 /FVC ratio (r = -0.585, P = 0.008) in smokers, but not in non-smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In smokers, high expression of HMGB1 in the blood and lungs is related to the lung function impairment and appears to be associated with the development of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Physiology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Respiratory Therapy, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Kuo
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Hu
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Therapy, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Te-Cheng
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lien
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Physiology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzong-Shyuan
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Physiology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu Ru
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Kou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D024243:HMGB1 Protein
keywords: blood; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; gene expression; high mobility group box 1; lung function impairment