Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 as a possible marker of COPD in smokers and ex-smokers

• Main Authors: Caram LMO, Ferrari R, Nogueira DL, Oliveira MRM, Francisqueti FV, Tanni SE, Corrêa CR, Godoy I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2017-07-01
• Series: International Journal of COPD
• Subjects: smoking; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; inflammation mediators; oxidative stress.
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/tumor-necrosis-factor-receptor-2-as-a-possible-marker-of-copd-in-smoke-peer-reviewed-article-COPD

Laura Miranda de Oliveira Caram,1 R Ferrari,1 DL Nogueira,1 MRM Oliveira,2 FV Francisqueti,2 SE Tanni,1 CR Corrêa,2 I Godoy1 1Department of Internal Medicine, 2Department of Pathology, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista, Botucatu Campus, Botucatu-São Paulo, Brazil Introduction: Oxidative stress and systemic inflammation are higher in smokers and patients with COPD; however, markers that may help differentiate between smokers and patients with COPD have not yet been identified. We hypothesized that tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor (TNFR) and soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) can be indicators of COPD in asymptomatic patients.Patients and methods: We evaluated 32 smokers (smoking history >10 pack-years), 32 patients with mild/moderate COPD (smokers and ex-smokers), and 32 never smokers. Concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, TNFR1 and TNFR2, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and the sRAGE were measured in serum.Results: There were higher CRP and AGEs concentrations in smokers and in patients with COPD (P<0.001 and P=0.01, respectively) compared to controls, without statistical difference between smokers and patients with COPD. Concentrations of sRAGE, IL-6, and TNFR1 did not differ between study groups. TNFR2 was significantly higher in patients with COPD than in smokers (P=0.004) and controls (P=0.004), and the presence of COPD (P=0.02) and CRP (P=0.001) showed a positive association with TNFR2. Positive associations for smoking (P=0.04), CRP (P=0.03), and IL-6 (P=0.03) with AGEs were also found. The interaction variable (smoking × COPD) showed a positive association with IL-6.Conclusion: Our data suggest that TNFR2 may be a possible marker of COPD in asymptomatic smokers and ex-smokers. Although smokers and patients with early COPD presented other increased systemic inflammation markers (eg, CRP) and oxidative stress (measured by AGEs), they did not differentiate smokers from COPD. Keywords: smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammation mediators, oxidative stress