Serum PARC/CCL-18 concentrations and health outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011 May 1;183(9):1187-92. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201008-1220OC. Epub 2011 Jan 7.

Abstract

Rationale: There are no accepted blood-based biomarkers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pulmonary and activation-regulated chemokine (PARC/CCL-18) is a lung-predominant inflammatory protein that is found in serum.

Objectives: To determine whether PARC/CCL-18 levels are elevated and modifiable in COPD and to determine their relationship to clinical end points of hospitalization and mortality.

Methods: PARC/CCL-18 was measured in serum samples from individuals who participated in the ECLIPSE (Evaluation of COPD Longitudinally to Identify Predictive Surrogate Endpoints) and LHS (Lung Health Study) studies and a prednisolone intervention study.

Measurements and main results: Serum PARC/CCL-18 levels were higher in subjects with COPD than in smokers or lifetime nonsmokers without COPD (105 vs. 81 vs. 80 ng/ml, respectively; P < 0.0001). Elevated PARC/CCL-18 levels were associated with increased risk of cardiovascular hospitalization or mortality in the LHS cohort and with total mortality in the ECLIPSE cohort.

Conclusions: Serum PARC/CCL-18 levels are elevated in COPD and track clinical outcomes. PARC/CCL-18, a lung-predominant chemokine, could be a useful blood biomarker in COPD.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00292552.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Chemokines, CC / blood*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / blood*
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / drug therapy
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / blood

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • CCL18 protein, human
  • Chemokines, CC
  • Prednisolone

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00292552