Adiponectin as inflammatory biomarker of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BackgroundSystemic inflammation appears to be a major factor linking COPD to metabolic disorders as comorbidities. Obesity is considered a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation in which a greater production of pro-inflammatory cytokines overcomes the production of cytokines with anti-inflammatory properties.Aim of the workTo measure serum adiponectin (APN) level in COPD (obese and non obese) during stable and acute exacerbation stage and to evaluate its role as a biomarker of systemic inflammationSubjects and methodsThis study was conducted on 88 subjects; 68 male smokers with COPD (34 stable and 34 exacerbated each group reclassified into [17 obese and 17 non-obese]) and 20 age and sex matched apparently healthy subjects as a control group. Serum APN level was measured with ELIZA. Ventilatory function testing and body mass index (BMI) were performed in all patients and control subjects.ResultsSerum APN level was approximately more than 3-fold higher in non-obese AECOPD and stable COPD cases than obese. However, more than 2-fold higher in non-obese control than obese. There was no correlation between adiponectin and FEV1, FEV1/FVC in COPD patients.ConclusionSerum adiponectin level was raised in non-obese COPD cases more than obese COPD cases and the rise is more during exacerbation. In addition, serum adiponectin level was raised in obese COPD cases during exacerbation and during stable conditions. A further rise in serum APN in exacerbation period denotes that APN may also be a biomarker of exacerbation and represents significant prognostic marker for COPD disease.