title: Relationship between plasma chemerin levels and disease severity in COPD patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic inflammation of the lung is a characteristic finding in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The protein chemerin has been identified in inflammatory fluid and in inflamed tissues. This study aimed to determine the association between serum chemerin levels and the severity of COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three COPD patients and 38 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Fasting plasma samples were obtained from the patient and the control group. Serum chemerin levels were measured using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. C-reactive protein levels, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and fibrinogen analysis were used to assess the inflammation status of the patients. Spirometric measurements with reversibility testing were performed in all the subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum chemerin levels were significantly elevated in the COPD patients (6.44 ± 0.52 vs 5.22 ± 0.59; P < 0.001). A Mann-Whitney U-test revealed that the serum chemerin levels of stage 2 COPD patients were higher than those of stage 1 and 3 COPD patients (P = 0.651). Cigarette smoking and plasma chemerin relation was also understudied; however, there was no significant relationship between current smokers and ex-smokers (P > 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that serum chemerin levels were positively correlated only with total cholesterol (T. cholesterol) (P < 0.05, r = 0.382). In the linear regression analysis, chemerin levels were associated with age (β = 0.321), triglycerides (β = 0.299) and T. cholesterol (β = 0.555).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study points to a relation between plasma chemerin levels and COPD. Larger patient groups are needed to verify the role of chemerin in the severity of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gaziosmanpasa Taksim Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boyuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Physician, Namik Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Eda C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Guzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gaziosmanpasa Taksim Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hande
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atalay
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Namik Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Savas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Namik Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Namik Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kucukyalçin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C478630:RARRES2 protein, human
keywords: COPD; chemerin; cigarette; inflammation