Trefoil factor peptides in serum and sputum from subjects with asthma and COPD.
OBJECTIVE
Trefoil factor peptides (TFF) are secreted onto mucosal surfaces together with mucins and occur in high concentrations in pulmonary secretions from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the present study, we aimed to explore the concentrations of the peptides in serum and sputum in patients with COPD.


METHODS
Thirty-five individuals were included in the study, including 11 healthy individuals, 13 indivials with asthma and 11 individuals with COPD. TFF1, TFF2 and TFF3 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in sputum induced by hypertonic saline inhalation and in serum. Total protein content in sputum was also determined.


RESULTS
In the sputum samples from COPD patients, we observed an eightfold higher concentration of TFF1 and a fivefold higher concentration of TFF3 compared with controls. In the serum samples from COPD patients, we observed three-, three- and twofold higher concentrations of TFF1, TFF2 and TFF3 respectively compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
There is increased secretion of TFF peptides in the lungs of patients with COPD, as well as significant increases in serum levels. This suggests a role for TFF peptides in the pathogenesis of pulmonary diseases with mucus hypersecretion.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Niels-Erik
NE
Viby
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Lars
L
Pedersen
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Thomas Kromann
TK
Lund
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Hannelouise
H
Kissow
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Vibeke
V
Backer
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Ebba
E
Nexø
Department of Protein Engineering, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maalov, Denmark.
Lars
L
Thim
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Steen Seier
SS
Poulsen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D010455:Peptides; C051838:TFF1 protein, human; C000604007:TFF2 protein, human; C082495:TFF3 protein, human; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
TFF; asthma; hypersecretion; mucin