Association between peripheral blood WBCs C3aR mRNA level and plasma C3a, C3aR, IL-1β concentrations and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Zhu Li; Peiyong He; Hongwei Ding; Ling Gong; Jie Wu; Chengyao Zhong; Daishun Liu

doi:10.1016/j.imbio.2021.152164

Association between peripheral blood WBCs C3aR mRNA level and plasma C3a, C3aR, IL-1β concentrations and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Immunobiology. 2022 Jan;227(1):152164. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2021.152164. Epub 2021 Dec 9.

Authors

Zhu Li¹, Peiyong He², Hongwei Ding³, Ling Gong¹, Jie Wu⁴, Chengyao Zhong⁵, Daishun Liu⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Zunyi (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University), 563000 Guizhou, China.
² The Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, 621000 Sichuan, China.
³ School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou, China.
⁴ Scientific Research Center, The First People's Hospital of Zunyi (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University), 563000 Guizhou, China.
⁵ Department of Respiratory Geriatrics and Otolaryngology, Chongqing Public Health Medical, Chongqing 400030, China.
⁶ Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou, China. Electronic address: ldslwtg@126.com.

PMID: 34923262
DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2021.152164

Abstract

Background: The relationship between C3a-C3aR, IL-1β, and the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is still unclear. This study aims to explore the expression levels of C3aR in peripheral blood WBCs and the concentrations of C3a, C3aR, and IL-1β in plasma in healthy controls and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: WBCs C3aR level in the peripheral blood, the concentrations of C3a, C3aR, and IL-1β in plasma were measured in 60 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), 30 patients with stable COPD (SCOPD), and 30 healthy controls. The baseline characteristics and clinical data collected from enrolled patients, including age, gender, laboratory indicators, and lung function. We analyzed the correlation between C3a, C3aR, IL-1β, and lung function indicators (forced expiratory volume in the first second as a percentage of predicted value, FEV₁%pred) in the AECOPD group.

Results: The white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) of patients in COPD were higher than in healthy controls (P < 0.05). The peripheral blood WBCs C3aR mRNA and plasma C3a, C3aR, and IL-1β in AECOPD were higher than in SCOPD and healthy controls (P < 0.05). The peripheral blood WBCs C3aR mRNA and plasma C3aR, and IL-1β in AECOPD combined with respiratory failure were higher than in the non-respiratory failure group (P < 0.05). The peripheral blood WBCs C3aR mRNA and plasma C3a, C3aR, and IL-1β in AECOPD with high-risk were higher than in the low-risk group (P < 0.05). The peripheral blood WBCs C3aR mRNA and plasma C3a, C3aR, and IL-1β in AECOPD were negatively correlated with FEV₁pred%. The peripheral blood WBCs C3aR mRNA, the plasma C3a and C3aR in AECOPD were positively correlated with IL-1β.

Conclusion: The peripheral blood WBCs C3aR mRNA and plasma C3a, C3aR, and IL-1β in COPD patients were significantly related to the risk of disease deterioration. The C3a-C3aR axis may be involved in airway inflammation in patients with COPD.

Keywords: Acute exacerbation phase; C3a; C3aR; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; IL-1β; Stable phase.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Case-Control Studies
Complement C3 / chemistry
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Interleukin-1beta / blood
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* / diagnosis
RNA, Messenger / blood
Receptors, Complement / blood
Respiratory Function Tests

Substances

C3 protein, human
Complement C3
IL1B protein, human
Interleukin-1beta
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Complement
complement C3a receptor