Abstract
RationaleLittle is known about gender differences in plasma biomarker levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).HypothesisThere are differences in serum biomarker levels between women and men with COPD.ObjectiveExplore gender differences in plasma biomarker levels in patients with COPD and smokers without COPD.MethodsWe measured plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-16, MCP-1, MMP-9, PARC and VEGF in 80 smokers without COPD (40 males, 40 females) and 152 stable COPD patients (76 males, 76 females) with similar airflow obstruction. We determined anthropometrics, smoking history, lung function, exercise tolerance, body composition, BODE index, co-morbidities and quality of life. We then explored associations between plasma biomarkers levels and the clinical characteristics of the patients and also with the clinical and physiological variables known to predict outcome in COPD.ResultsThe plasma biomarkers level explored were similar in men and women without COPD. In contrast, in patients with COPD the median value in pg/mL of IL-6 (6.26 vs 8.0, p = 0.03), IL-16 (390 vs 321, p = 0.009) and VEGF (50 vs 87, p = 0.02) differed between women and men. Adjusted for smoking history, gender was independently associated with IL-16, PARC and VEGF levels. There were also gender differences in the associations between IL-6, IL-16 and VEGF and physiologic variables that predict outcomes.ConclusionsIn stable COPD patients with similar airflow obstruction, there are gender differences in plasma biomarker levels and in the association between biomarker levels and important clinical or physiological variables. Further studies should confirm our findings.
Highlights
The prevalence of tobacco-related diseases in women, mainly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer continues to increase [1]
The plasma biomarkers level explored were similar in men and women without COPD
Adjusted for smoking history, gender was independently associated with IL-16, PARC and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels
Summary
The prevalence of tobacco-related diseases in women, mainly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer continues to increase [1]. Compared with men with similar degree of airflow obstruction, women with COPD have worse dyspnea and quality of life scores, lower body mass index (BMI) and fat free mass (FFM) [4], and manifest a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression [5]. In spite of these differences, they appear to have a better survival [6]. Several plasma biomarkers differ in their concentration between patients with COPD and normal controls [7]. The serum level of these biomarkers (CRP, IL-6, TNFa, MMP-9, PARC, VEGF)
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