Serum Heat Shock Protein Levels and the Relationship of Heat Shock Proteins with Various Parameters in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is accompanied by increased cellular stress and inflammation. Most of the Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) have strong cytoprotective effects. The role of HSPs in COPD pathogenesis has not determined completely. We investigated the serum level of HSPs in COPD patients, smokers without COPD and healthy non-smoking controls. Also, we evaluated the relationship of HSPs with various parameters (inflammatory, oxidative, functional status, quality of life) in COPD patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS:The levels of stress protein (HSP27, HSP70, HSP60, HSP90, CyPA), interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and malondialdehyde were measured in 16 healthy non-smoker, 14 smokers without COPD and 50 patients with stable COPD. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) and arterial blood gases parameters were measured. Health Related Quality of Life was evaluated and exercise capacity was measured with 6 minute walking test. RESULTS:Only HSP27 levels was significantly higher in COPD patients when compared with both healthy non-smoker and smokers without COPD (for both, p< 0.001). There was a weak-moderate negative correlation between serum levels of HSP27 and PFT parameters and between HSP27 levels and PaO 2 . Serum levels of HSP27 showed a weak-moderate positive correlation with symptom, activity and total scores. Subjects evaluated only smokers without COPD and patients with COPD; HSP27 had an area under the curve (AUC) in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.819 (0.702-0.935; 95% CI; p= 0.000). CONCLUSION:Increased serum levels of HSP27 was found in COPD patients and our results showed sensitivity and specificity of serum HSP27 as diagnostic markers for COPD.

Association of Plasma Heat Shock Protein 70 with Disease Severity, Smoking and Lung Function of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…By searching the literature, we found only three studies that assessed Hsp70 concentration in the blood of COPD patients so far (4,16,27). However, in addition to being performed on signi cantly lower number of participants compared to our study, there are some concerns regarding their sample and ELISA kit selection.…”

“…This is especially important at least for the studies with healthy participants at rest as their eHsp70 values tend to be very low as well as for the studies with elderly subjects as their eHsp70 concentrations are signi cantly lower than in young individuals (25). Still, in previous researches assessing eHsp70 in COPD patients that were mostly older subjects, serum (4,27) or heparinized plasma (16) were used. In addition, there are several concerns regarding ELISA kit applied in previous studies.…”

“…Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed proteins that normally acts as molecular chaperones which help in maintenance of protein homeostasis by assisting their folding processes (1,2). Their involvement in proper protein folding and prevention of protein aggregation as well as apoptosis is of great importance for cellular function, especially when the cells are exposed to stressful conditions (3)(4)(5). The 72-kDa Hsp (Hsp70 in the following refers to this protein) is located in cytosol and nucleus, and its expression is induced as a part of response to different stressors like heat, bacterial or viral infections (6,7).…”

“…Concentration of eHsp70 was assessed in peripheral circulation of COPD patients in only few studies, but with inconsistent results in comparison to healthy subjects (increased or similar values) (4,16,27). However, data about eHsp70 predictive value and its association with disease severity are lacking.…”

Heat shock protein 27 as a predictor of prognosis in patients admitted to hospital with acute COPD exacerbation

“…The heat shock protein 27, which belongs to the group of small heat shock proteins, has been studied thoroughly in patients with COPD. Increased HSP27 serum concentrations in patients with COPD have been reported when compared with healthy non-smokers and smokers (Hacker et al 2009b;Unver et al 2016). Correlation of serum HSP27 concentrations with spirometry analysis and high-resolution computed tomography (HR-CT) revealed that HSP27 is an independent prognosticator of air trapping and emphysema in a study cohort of smokers (Jan .…”