<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_pneum-2019-0004_s_006_w2aab3b7b4b1b6b1aab1c16b1Aa"><h3>Background</h3><p>Chronic mucus hypersecretion is a common feature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) activity. Aberrant EGF and its receptor signalling can cause airway hyperproliferation, increase in mucous cell differentiation and mucus hyperproduction. Furthermore, it can also promote subepithelial fibrosis and excessive collagen deposition in COPD. The objective of this research was to investigate the plasma levels of EGF in smokers with COPD in comparison with clinically healthy smokers. In addition, the relationship between the plasma levels of EGF and clinical features was investigated.</p></sec><sec id="j_pneum-2019-0004_s_007_w2aab3b7b4b1b6b1aab1c16b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>A cross-sectional study included 82 clinically stable male patients with mild-to-very severe COPD (mean age: 64.5±8.6 years), and the control group consisted of 86 healthy male smokers (mean age: 61.6±9.5 years). To define COPD, we performed spirometry and classified COPD using Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification. We analyzed the levels of EGF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in plasma.</p></sec><sec id="j_pneum-2019-0004_s_008_w2aab3b7b4b1b6b1aab1c16b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>The mean serum levels of EGF were significantly lower in smokers with COPD than those in controls (69.30 and 83.82 pg/mL, respectively, p = 0.046). The plasma levels of EGF were significantly different (p = 0.004) between mild COPD and moderate-to-very severe COPD. There were no significant differences between the levels of EGF in plasma of spontaneous sputum producers (COPD patients) vs. nonsputum producers (p = 0.101) and between nonexacerbated COPD and exacerbated COPD patients(p = 0.138).</p></sec><sec id="j_pneum-2019-0004_s_009_w2aab3b7b4b1b6b1aab1c16b4Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>There is a significant difference in the plasma levels of EGF in male smokers with COPD as compared with male healthy smokers. Our findings suggest that the plasma levels of EGF may contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD.</p></sec></abstract>

BackgroundChronic mucus hypersecretion is a common feature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) activity. Aberrant EGF and its receptor signalling can cause airway hyperproliferation, increase in mucous cell differentiation and mucus hyperproduction. Furthermore, it can also promote subepithelial fibrosis and excessive collagen deposition in COPD. The objective of this research was to investigate the plasma levels of EGF in smokers with COPD in comparison with clinically healthy smokers. In addition, the relationship between the plasma levels of EGF and clinical features was investigated.MethodsA cross-sectional study included 82 clinically stable male patients with mild-to-very severe COPD (mean age: 64.5±8.6 years), and the control group consisted of 86 healthy male smokers (mean age: 61.6±9.5 years). To define COPD, we performed spirometry and classified COPD using Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification. We analyzed the levels of EGF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in plasma.ResultsThe mean serum levels of EGF were significantly lower in smokers with COPD than those in controls (69.30 and 83.82 pg/mL, respectively, p = 0.046). The plasma levels of EGF were significantly different (p = 0.004) between mild COPD and moderate-to-very severe COPD. There were no significant differences between the levels of EGF in plasma of spontaneous sputum producers (COPD patients) vs. nonsputum producers (p = 0.101) and between nonexacerbated COPD and exacerbated COPD patients(p = 0.138).ConclusionsThere is a significant difference in the plasma levels of EGF in male smokers with COPD as compared with male healthy smokers. Our findings suggest that the plasma levels of EGF may contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD.

Decreased plasma epidermal growth factor (EGF) levels in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Biomedical Sciences Post-Graduate Programme, Faculty of Medicine

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine

Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine

Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine

Pneumologia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Nivelul plasmatic al factorului de creștere epidermal
(EGF) este scăzut la pacienții cu BPOC sever

BackgroundChronic mucus hypersecretion is a common feature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with epidermal growth factor (EGF)...

	Male smokers with COPD	Male healthy smokers	p
Age (SD) (years)	64.5 (8.6)	61.6 (9.5)	0.79
Brinkman Index (SD)	409.6 (199.22)	426.14 (243.14)	0.632
FEV₁* (SD)	55.40 (20.47)	103.81 (20.07)	0.000
FVC* (SD)	74.50 (19.49)	94.64 (16.18)	0.000
FEV₁/FVC (SD)	73.24 (14.51)	110.64 (18.64)	0.000

Group	N	Mean (pg/mL)	SD	p
COPD smokers	82	69.305	61.452	0.046
Healthy smokers	86	83.822	63.927

	FEV₁ predicted (%)	FEV₁/FVC (%)
Normal airflow	≥80	≥76
Airflow obstruction	<80	>76

Variables	N	Mean plasma level of EGF (SD)	p
Airflow limitation severity
GOLD 1 (mild)	10	120.43 (76.59)	0.004
GOLD 2–4 (moderate–very severe)	72	62.204 (56.08)
Sputum production
Nonspontaneous	35	81.50 (64.56)	0.122
Spontaneous	42	60.22(58.06)
COPD exacerbation in previous year
No exacerbation	50	76.35(63.02)	0.138
Exacerbation	32	58.29 (58.17)

Decreased plasma epidermal growth factor (EGF) levels in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Article Category: Original Papers

Published Online: Jul 02, 2019

Page range: 21 - 26

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pneum-2019-0004

Keywords
COPD, plasma levels of EGF, smokers, mucous hypersecretion, exacerbation, spirometry

© 2019 Soemarwoto et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Clinical and physiological characteristics of smokers with COPD vs healthy smokers

Plasma EGF levels in COPD smokers vs. healthy smokers.

Diagnosis of airflow obstruction according to Pneumobile Project, Indonesia.

Univariate analysis for plasma EGF levels and potential confounding variables.

Decreased plasma epidermal growth factor (EGF) levels in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Article Category: Original Papers

Published Online: Jul 02, 2019

Page range: 21 - 26

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pneum-2019-0004

KeywordsCOPD, plasma levels of EGF, smokers, mucous hypersecretion, exacerbation, spirometry

© 2019 Soemarwoto et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Clinical and physiological characteristics of smokers with COPD vs healthy smokers

Plasma EGF levels in COPD smokers vs. healthy smokers.

Diagnosis of airflow obstruction according to Pneumobile Project, Indonesia.

Univariate analysis for plasma EGF levels and potential confounding variables.

Keywords
COPD, plasma levels of EGF, smokers, mucous hypersecretion, exacerbation, spirometry