title: Sex differences in function and structure of the quadriceps muscle in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disorder with extrapulmonary manifestations. Even though there is some knowledge regarding sex differences in the lung disease, little is known about extrapulmonary manifestations. Our aim was to analyze the specific profile of muscle dysfunction, structure, and biology in COPD women. Twenty-one women and 19 men with stable COPD as well as 15 controls were included. Nutritional status, physical activity, lung and muscle function, exercise capacity, and quality of life were assessed. In addition, blood, breath condensate, and quadriceps muscle samples were tested for inflammatory markers. Moreover, fiber phenotype, signs of damage-regeneration, and the expression of key genes linked to myogenesis and inflammation were assessed in the muscle. Inflammatory markers were increased in all body compartments but no correlation was found among them. Muscle dysfunction was present in both COPD groups but was more marked in women. The opposite occurred with the increase in the percentage of type II fibers that was lower in women despite a similar level of airway obstruction as in men. Female COPD also showed higher signs of muscle damage than COPD men who, in contrast, exhibited slightly higher signs of regeneration. We conclude that sex influences muscle phenotype and function in COPD.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital del Mar Muscle and Respiratory System Research Unit (URMAR), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), ISC III, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ausín
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital del Mar Muscle and Respiratory System Research Unit (URMAR), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), ISC III, Barcelona, Spain.|2 CEXS Department. Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Juana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez-Llorens
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital del Mar Muscle and Respiratory System Research Unit (URMAR), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), ISC III, Barcelona, Spain.|3 AO Research Institute Davos, Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich, Davos, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabaté-Bresco
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital del Mar Muscle and Respiratory System Research Unit (URMAR), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), ISC III, Barcelona, Spain.|2 CEXS Department. Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casadevall
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital del Mar Muscle and Respiratory System Research Unit (URMAR), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), ISC III, Barcelona, Spain.|2 CEXS Department. Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barreiro
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital del Mar Muscle and Respiratory System Research Unit (URMAR), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), ISC III, Barcelona, Spain.|2 CEXS Department. Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gea
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018656:Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / Q000473:pathology; D017570:MyoD Protein / Q000235:genetics; D051787:Myogenic Regulatory Factor 5 / Q000235:genetics; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000235:genetics; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000235:genetics; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; C508603:IL6R protein, human; D007378:Interleukins; C497417:MYF5 protein, human; D017570:MyoD Protein; C057363:MyoD1 myogenic differentiation protein; D051787:Myogenic Regulatory Factor 5; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor; C497321:PAX7 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C070896:M-cadherin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains
keywords: COPD; Women; muscle damage; muscle dysfunction; peripheral muscles