Plasma biomarkers prediction on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease progression

Background:\ud Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive disease resulting from persistent airflow limitation. The severity of COPD is categorized based on forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and the ratio of FEV1/FVC by pulmonary function test. The rate of change in FEV1 could influence COPD management and treatment, however, it varies significantly across people. Early disease treatment applied on COPD patients with rapid decline in FEV1 could prevent patients from early exacerbation in lung function failure. We hypothesize that plasma biomarkers are associated with COPD progression and could identify patients with rapid decline in FEV1.\ud Methods:\ud A cohort of 313 former smokers was followed for 2 years. Pulmonary function test (for FEV1) and computed tomography (for Frac-950 and multiple lobes based on visual emphysema score, MLVS) were applied to all subjects when entering the study and at the 2-year follow-up visit. Peripheral plasma samples were collected when entering the study and plasma levels of 17 biomarkers were recorded with the samples.\ud Results:\ud Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) are significant positively associated with continuous FEV1 percent predicted change. Plasma level of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM1) is significant in estimating continuous Frac-950 change positively and plasma levels of sICAM1 and MMP1 are significant in estimating Frac-950 rapid decline positively. Plasma level of tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is significant negatively and plasma level of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP2) is significant positively associated with continuous MLVS change, and plasma levels of sclerostin (SOST), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP1) and TIMP2 are significant positively associated with MLVS rapid decline. P-values less than 0.05 are considered significant.\ud Conclusions:\ud Peripheral plasma biomarkers are associated with COPD progression but variations exist. The levels of biomarkers along with baseline lung function could estimate the COPD patients with future rapid decline in lung function. \ud Public Health Significance:\ud Early treatment on those rapid decliners could reduce disease exacerbation and COPD comorbidities.\u