Angelo Zinellu1, Alessandro Giuseppe Fois2,3, Elisabetta Zinellu2,3, Elisabetta Sotgiu1, Salvatore Sotgia1, Dionigia Arru1, Arduino A Mangoni4, Ciriaco Carru1,5, Pietro Pirina2,3. 1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. 2. Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. 3. Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospital Sassari (AOU), Sassari, Italy. 4. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. 5. Quality Control Unit, University Hospital Sassari (AOU), Sassari, Italy.
Abstract
AIM: Since an increase in kynurenine (Kyn) plasma concentrations has been proposed as marker of immune system activation, we studied the associations between the Kyn levels and presence and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS & RESULTS: Plasma Kyn, tryptophan (Trp) and Kyn/Trp ratio were measured in 43 COPD patients with clinically defined mild (n = 29) or moderate (n = 14) disease and 43 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. When compared with controls, COPD patients had significantly higher plasma Kyn concentrations and Kyn/Trp ratios. In multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for clinical and demographic confounders, the Kyn/Trp ratio was independently associated with COPD severity. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: Kyn and Kyn/Trp ratio might represent a new, sensitive, biomarker of systemic inflammation in COPD patients.
AIM: Since an increase in kynurenine (Kyn) plasma concentrations has been proposed as marker of immune system activation, we studied the associations between the Kyn levels and presence and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS & RESULTS: Plasma Kyn, tryptophan (Trp) and Kyn/Trp ratio were measured in 43 COPDpatients with clinically defined mild (n = 29) or moderate (n = 14) disease and 43 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. When compared with controls, COPDpatients had significantly higher plasma Kyn concentrations and Kyn/Trp ratios. In multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for clinical and demographic confounders, the Kyn/Trp ratio was independently associated with COPD severity. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION:Kyn and Kyn/Trp ratio might represent a new, sensitive, biomarker of systemic inflammation in COPDpatients.
Authors: Rosanne Jhcg Beijers; Lieke E J van Iersel; Lisanne T Schuurman; Robert J J Hageman; Sami O Simons; Ardy van Helvoort; Harry R Gosker; Annemie Mwj Schols Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-03-16 Impact factor: 2.692