CYTOKINE PROFILE IN QUADRICEPS MUSCLES OF PATIENTS WITH SEVERE CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Esther Barreiro ^1*, Annemie MWJ Schols ², Michael I Polkey ³, JUAN B GALDIZ ⁴, Harry R Gosker ⁵, Elisabeth B Swallow ³, Carlos Coronell ⁶ and Joaquim Gea ⁷

¹ IMIM-UPF, Centro de Investigacion en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CibeRes), Spain
² University Hospital Maastricht, Netherlands
³ Royal Brompton Hospital, United Kingdom
⁴ CRUCES HOSPITAL, Spain
⁵ Maastricht University, Netherlands
⁶ Hospital del Mar-IMIM, Spain
⁷ Hospital del Mar - IMIM - Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Centro de Investigacion en Red de Enfermedades R, Spain

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ebarreiro{at}imim.es.

Accepted 23 August 2007

Abstract

Background: Systemic proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress have been described in association with peripheral muscle wasting and weakness of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but their expression in skeletal muscle is unknown. Objectives of the present study were to determine muscle protein levels of selected cytokines in patients with COPD and to study their relationships with protein carbonylation as a marker of oxidative stress, quadriceps function, and exercise capacity. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in which 36 cytokines were detected using a human antibody array in quadriceps specimens obtained from 19 patients with severe COPD and 7 healthy controls. Subsequently, selected cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, TNF-alpha receptors I and II, interleukin (IL)-6, interferon-gamma, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)], as well as protein carbonylation (oxidative stress index) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in all muscles. Results: As compared to controls, vastus lateralis of COPD patients showed significantly lower protein ELISA levels of TNF-alpha, which positively correlated with their quadriceps function, TNF-alpha receptor II, and VEGF. Protein ELISA levels of IL-6, interferon-gamma, and TGF-beta did not differ between patients and controls. Quadriceps protein carbonylation was greater in the patients and inversely correlated with quadriceps strength amongst them. Conclusions: These findings do not support the presence of a pro-inflammatory environment within the quadriceps muscles of clinically and weight stable patients with severe COPD, despite evidence for increased oxidative stress and the presence of muscle weakness.

Keywords: COPD, muscle cytokines, oxidative stress, peripheral muscle dysfunction

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Is inflammation good, bad or irrelevant for skeletal muscles in COPD?

Don D Sin and W Darlene Reid
Thorax 2008 63: 95-96. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Caron, M.-A., Debigare, R., Dekhuijzen, P. N. R., Maltais, F. (2009). Comparative assessment of the quadriceps and the diaphragm in patients with COPD. J. Appl. Physiol. 107: 952-961 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Dufresne, V., Knoop, C., Van Muylem, A., Malfroot, A., Lamotte, M., Opdekamp, C., Deboeck, G., Cassart, M., Stallenberg, B., Casimir, G., Duchateau, J., Estenne, M. (2009). Effect of Systemic Inflammation on Inspiratory and Limb Muscle Strength and Bulk in Cystic Fibrosis. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 180: 153-158 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Barnes, P. J., Celli, B. R. (2009). Systemic manifestations and comorbidities of COPD. Eur Respir J 33: 1165-1185 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Olfert, I. M., Howlett, R. A., Tang, K., Dalton, N. D., Gu, Y., Peterson, K. L., Wagner, P. D., Breen, E. C. (2009). Muscle-specific VEGF deficiency greatly reduces exercise endurance in mice. J. Physiol. 587: 1755-1767 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Polkey, M. I., Rabe, K. F. (2009). Chicken or egg: physical activity in COPD revisited. Eur Respir J 33: 227-229 [Full Text]  
• Barreiro, E, Rabinovich, R, Marin-Corral, J, Barbera, J A, Gea, J, Roca, J (2009). Chronic endurance exercise induces quadriceps nitrosative stress in patients with severe COPD. Thorax 64: 13-19 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Barnes, P. J. (2008). Future Treatments for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Its Comorbidities. Proc Am Thorac Soc 5: 857-864 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Picard, M., Godin, R., Sinnreich, M., Baril, J., Bourbeau, J., Perrault, H., Taivassalo, T., Burelle, Y. (2008). The Mitochondrial Phenotype of Peripheral Muscle in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Disuse or Dysfunction?. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 178: 1040-1047 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sin, D. D, Reid, W D. (2008). Is inflammation good, bad or irrelevant for skeletal muscles in COPD?. Thorax 63: 95-96 [Full Text]