Lung

, Volume 192, Issue 1, pp 95–102 | Cite as

Transforming Growth Factor-β1 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α are Associated with Clinical Severity and Airflow Limitation of COPD in an Additive Manner

  • Chi-Huei Chiang
  • Chiao-Hui Chuang
  • Shiou-Ling Liu
Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Background

The role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships among polymorphisms, clinical phenotypes, and the serum levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1.

Methods

Polymorphisms of promoters of TNF-α (rs 361525 and rs 1800629) and TGF-β1 (rs 1800469) in 110 COPD patients, 110 nonsmoker health controls without COPD, and 34 smokers were evaluated. Pulmonary functions, chest computed tomography, TGF-β1, and TNF-α were assessed.

Results

The genetic polymorphism of TNF-α (rs 361525) was associated with COPD. More severe COPD patients had higher serum levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1; moreover, serum levels of TGF-β1of mild COPD patients were higher than normal controls. All of the studied subjects were divided into four groups by the 95th percentile value of control as cutoff serum value of TGF-β1 (224.35 ρg/ml) or TNF-α (17.56 ρg/ml) to define the high value of TGF-β1 or TNF-α, which are higher than those cutoff of values (>224.35 or 17.56 ρg/ml). The FEV1 of the group with high TGF-β1 + low TNF-α or low TGF-β1 + high TNF-α or high TNF-α + high TGF-β1 was lower than the group with low TGF-β1 + low TNF-α group. Moreover, the lowest value of FEV1 was in the group with high TNF-α + high TGF-β1.

Conclusions

The genetic polymorphism of the TNF-α is associated with COPD. Both TGF-β1 and TNF-α modulate clinical severity and airflow limitation in an additive manner.

Keywords

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Gene polymorphism Tumor necrosis factor-α Transforming growth factor-β1 Phenotype 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Grants from Taipei Veterans General Hospital (V98C1-015, V99C1-111, V100-C-044, V101C-030, andV100D-007-1) and the National Science Council (NSC 97-2314-B-075-045NSC, 98-2314-B-075-036, and NSC99-2314-B-075-034-MY2); Taiwan COPD Consortium, Taiwan Clinical Trial Consortium, Taiwan. English writing was revised by Dr. Jay H. Ryu, a professor of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Department of the Mayo Clinic, USA.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest for all authors.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Chi-Huei Chiang
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
  • Chiao-Hui Chuang
    • 1
  • Shiou-Ling Liu
    • 1
  1. 1.Division of Pulmonary Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Chest DepartmentTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
  2. 2.Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, School of MedicineNational Yang-Ming UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
  3. 3.Medical SchoolNational Defense Medical CenterTaipeiTaiwan

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