title: Antibodies of IgG, IgA and IgM against Human Bronchial Epithelial Cell in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, autoimmune mechanisms and pulmonary epithelial cells have attracted attention in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Circulating antibodies against human bronchial epithelial cells (anti-HBEC) bind to bronchial epithelial antigens and induce bronchial epithelial cell damage. This study aimed to detect the expression of IgG, IgM, and IgA anti-HBEC in patients with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The association of gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and pulmonary function with the presence of IgG, IgA, and IgM anti-HBEC in the plasma was determined in 170 patients with COPD and 150 age-matched healthy controls. Circulating IgG, IgA, and IgM anti-HBEC were detected by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive IgG anti-HBEC was seen in 34/170 (20.00%) COPD and 11/150 (7.33%) healthy controls (p < 0.001) (1:100 dilution); positive IgA anti-HBEC were presented in 50/170 (29.41%) COPD and 13/150 (8.67%) healthy controls (p < 0.0001) (1:40 dilution); 19/170 (11.19%) COPD and 10/150 (6.67%) healthy controls exhibited positive IgM anti-HBEC (p > 0.05) (1:40 dilution). The positive IgG and IgA anti-HBEC COPD patients were mostly classified as GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) III and GOLD IV. The positive IgA anti-HBEC COPD patients had lower BMI than healthy controls (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that an autoimmune component associated with bronchial epithelial cell damage is possibly involved in COPD and the presence of IgG and IgA anti-HBEC correlated with the GOLD stage of COPD. Therefore, our studies indicate that IgG and IgA anti-HBEC may associate with the disease severity of COPD.
authors.forename: Guilian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Nian
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yueqin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Tianpen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M