Increased MMP8 Levels in Atopic Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Study Testing Multiple Immune Factors in Atopic and Non-Atopic Patients

Haisheng Hu; Chuanxu Cai; Mingshan Xue; Jiaying Luo; Chenxi Liao; Huimin Huang; Baoqing Sun

doi:10.2147/COPD.S263313

Increased MMP8 Levels in Atopic Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Study Testing Multiple Immune Factors in Atopic and Non-Atopic Patients

Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2020 Jul 30:15:1839-1848. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S263313. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Haisheng Hu^#¹, Chuanxu Cai^#², Mingshan Xue¹, Jiaying Luo¹, Chenxi Liao¹, Huimin Huang^#¹, Baoqing Sun¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
² Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shenzhen People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518020, People's Republic of China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the level of serum matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in atopic and non-atopic COPD patients, providing guidance for clinical practice and theory for atopic COPD.

Methods: Blood samples from 50 adult male patients with COPD, including 17 atopic and 33 non-atopic patients, were submitted for detection of MMP8, MMP9, surfactant associated protein D (SPD), noradrenaline (NE), leukotriene (LT) B4, recombinant proteoglycan (PRG4), Phadiatop sIgE, and tIgE levels. Patients' Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), pulmonary function test results, FeNO, blood cell ratio and induced sputum were collected.

Results: The level of serum tIgE in patients with atopic COPD [1876.00 kU/l (760.50, 5347.00)] was significantly higher than in patients with non-atopic COPD [377.00 kU/l (93.50, 581.50), P < 0.001]. The MMP8 levels in atopic COPD (1600 ± 1181 ng/mL) were significantly higher than in non-atopic COPD (973.3 ±921.5 ng/mL, P = 0.0494), but there was no significant difference in MMP9, SPD, NE, LTB4, and PRG4 levels between the two groups. In atopic COPD patients, the rate of leukocyte (r_s = 0.63, P < 0.001) and neutrophil (r_s = 0.54, P < 0.05) were positively correlated with MMP8 levels, while lymphocyte rate was negatively correlated with MMP8 (r_s = -0.70, P < 0.001) and MMP9 levels (r_s = -0.54, P < 0.05). Optimal scale analysis showed that NE was most closely related to the basophil rate from induced sputum and FeNO levels (Cronbach's alpha = 85.1%). Interestingly, all atopic COPD patients with mMRC ≥2, CAT ≥ 10, and CCQ ≥16 exhibited MMP8 levels >1000 ng/mL.

Conclusion: In general, tIgE and MMP8 levels were higher in atopic COPD patients than in non-atopic patients. NE levels were closely correlated with the basophil rate of induced sputum and FeNO levels, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis and development of atopic COPD.

Keywords: allergy; atopy; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; immunoglobulin E; matrix metalloproteinases.

MeSH terms

Adult
Humans
Immunologic Factors
Male
Matrix Metalloproteinase 8
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* / diagnosis
Respiratory Function Tests
Sputum

Substances

Immunologic Factors
MMP8 protein, human
Matrix Metalloproteinase 8

Grants and funding

This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 81871736); Guangzhou Science and Technology Innovation Committee (201804020043); Guangzhou Education Bureau (201831802); and State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease Foundation (SKLRD-MS-201906, SKLRD-OP-201803). The funders had no role in study design, data analysis, preparation of the manuscript, or decision to publish.