Profiling the erythrocyte membrane proteome isolated from patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

► Erythrocytes were used to assess its role in the pathophysiology of COPD. ► Differential 16O/18O stable isotope labeling was employed for relative quantitation. ► A total 219 proteins were quantified as differentially expressed in COPD patients. ► VPS13A was found down-regulated in COPD patients which may be related to erythrocyte deformation in COPD. ► CYB5R3 was found down-regulated in COPD suggesting higher risk of methemoglobinemia among COPD patients.