Serum TNFα, CD14 and CRP levels in COPD patients with different alpha-1 antitrypsin phenotypes

Abstract

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is well-established genetic risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but despite of etiologic factors in disease pathogenesis, chronic inflammation is always present. It was reacently shown, that AAT regulates many physiological and patological processes, which may significantly impact the disease process. Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate concentrations of TNFα, CD14 and CRP in COPD patients with different AAT phenotypes. Methods: Biomarkers in serum from COPD patients (n=436) were analysed using comercially available ELISA kits, AAT phenotyping was carried out by means of isoelectric-focusing, AAT concentrations were determined by means of nephelometry. Results: Comparison between TNFa, CD14,, CRP and AAT serum concentration of 436 COPD patients with different AAT phenotypes SD) MM MZ MS SZ ZZ Number of subjects 369 25 26 3 8 AAT (mg/dl) 169(47) 116(29) 120(31) 77(20) 46(12) TNFα (pg) 103(272) 430(1,699) 80(120) 0 53.8(142) CD14 (Mcgr) 2.9(1.3) 3.2(1.5) 2(1.2) 3.9(0.2) 2.9(0.4) CRP(U/L) 23.9(49.5) 33.8(72.9) 20(30) 62.3(97.6) 18(28.4) Comparing the ZZ group against the remaining (MM, MZ, MS and SZ) phenotypic groups, ZZ showed: significant lower AAT serum concentration (P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in TNFα, CD14 and CRP concentrations in all studied phenotypic groups. Conclusions: Besides to the expected lowest AAT serum concentrations in COPD patients with ZZ phenotype variant, when compared to the remaining phenotypic groups, we did not find correlations of AAT concentration with studied inflamatory markers: TNFα, CD14, CRP.