title: TGF-β/BAMBI pathway dysfunction contributes to peripheral Th17/Treg imbalance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BMP and activin membrane-bound inhibitor (BAMBI) is postulated to inhibit or modulate transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling. Furthermore, strong upregulation of BAMBI expression following in vitro infection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lung tissue has been demonstrated. In this study, we investigated whether TGF-β/BAMBI pathway is associated with COPD. Blood samples were obtained from 27 healthy controls (HC), 24 healthy smokers (HS) and 29 COPD patients. Elevated Th17/Treg ratios, and increased levels of BAMBI protein and mRNA (in plasma and CD4(+) T cells respectively), were observed in COPD compared with HC and HS. BAMBI expression was first observed on human CD4(+) T cells, with a typical membrane-bound pattern. The enhanced plasma BAMBI levels in COPD positively correlated with the increased plasma TGF-β1 levels and Th17/Treg ratio. Together, an impaired TGF-β/BAMBI pathway may promote the inflammation leading to Th17/Treg imbalance, which is a new mechanism in smokers who develop COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Chu
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Ji
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors.forename: Xian-Zhi
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Nan
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors.forename: Jiang-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 JieFang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C485671:BAMBI protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta