Plasma Chemokine signature correlates with lung goblet cell hyperplasia in smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• DOI: 10.1186/s12890-015-0103-2
• Publication Date: 2015-09-30T15:21:42Z
• Authors: Victor Kim; William D. Cornwell; Michelle Oros; Heba Durra; Gerard J. Criner; Thomas J. Rogers
• Keywords: Interleukin 8; DLCO; Goblet cell

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by lung and systemic inflammation as well airway goblet cell hyperplasia (GCH). Mucin production activated in part stimulation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor pathway through neutrophils macrophages. How circulating cytokine levels relate to GCH not clear. We performed phlebotomy bronchoscopy on 25 subjects (six nonsmokers, 11 healthy smokers, eight COPD FEV1 30–60 %). Six endobronchial biopsies per subject were performed. was measured measuring mucin volume density (MVD) using stereological techniques periodic acid fast-Schiff stained samples. chemokines CXCL8/IL-8, CCL2/MCP-1, CCL7/MCP-3, CCL22/MCD, CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL4/MIP-1β, cytokines IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-9, IL-17, EGF, vascular endothelial (VEGF). Differences between groups assessed one-way ANOVA, t test, or Chi squared test. Post hoc tests after ANOVA Bonferroni correction. MVD highest smokers (27.78 ± 10.24 μL/mm2) compared (16.82 16.29 μL/mm2, p = 0.216) nonsmokers (3.42 3.07 <0.0001). Plasma CXCL8 (11.05 8.92 pg/mL) (1.20 21.92 pg/mL, 0.047) (6.01 5.90 0.366). CCL22 CCL4 followed same trends. There no significant differences other measured. When divided into current (healthy smokers) non/ex-smokers (nonsmokers ex-smokers), plasma CXCL8, CCL22, CCL4, greater smokers. No seen. moderately correlated with (r 0.552, 0.003). In this small cohort, MVD, attain subjects. These findings seem be driven smoking are independent airflow obstruction. data suggest that upregulates a pattern neutrophil macrophage chemoattractant expression, correlates significantly development hyperplasia.