Frontiers in Medicine (Jun 2023)

Novel protein biomarkers for pneumonia and acute exacerbations in COPD: a pilot study

  • Anna Lena Jung,
  • Anna Lena Jung,
  • Maria Han,
  • Maria Han,
  • Kathrin Griss,
  • Kathrin Griss,
  • Wilhelm Bertrams,
  • Christoph Nell,
  • Timm Greulich,
  • Andreas Klemmer,
  • Hendrik Pott,
  • Dominik Heider,
  • Dominik Heider,
  • Claus F. Vogelmeier,
  • Stefan Hippenstiel,
  • Norbert Suttorp,
  • Bernd Schmeck,
  • Bernd Schmeck,
  • Bernd Schmeck,
  • Bernd Schmeck,
  • Bernd Schmeck

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1180746
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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IntroductionCommunity-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) result in high morbidity, mortality, and socio-economic burden. The usage of easily accessible biomarkers informing on disease entity, severity, prognosis, and pathophysiological endotypes is limited in clinical practice. Here, we have analyzed selected plasma markers for their value in differential diagnosis and severity grading in a clinical cohort.MethodsA pilot cohort of hospitalized patients suffering from CAP (n = 27), AECOPD (n = 10), and healthy subjects (n = 22) were characterized clinically. Clinical scores (PSI, CURB, CRB65, GOLD I-IV, and GOLD ABCD) were obtained, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-2-receptor (IL-2R), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), resistin, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), lactotransferrin (LTF), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), neutrophil-elastase-2 (ELA2), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), soluble Fas (sFas), as well as TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) were measured in plasma.ResultsIn CAP patients and healthy volunteers, we found significantly different levels of ELA2, HGF, IL-2R, IL-6, IL-8, LBP, resistin, LTF, and TRAIL. The panel of LBP, sFas, and TRAIL could discriminate between uncomplicated and severe CAP. AECOPD patients showed significantly different levels of LTF and TRAIL compared to healthy subjects. Ensemble feature selection revealed that CAP and AECOPD can be discriminated by IL-6, resistin, together with IL-2R. These factors even allow the differentiation between COPD patients suffering from an exacerbation or pneumonia.DiscussionTaken together, we identified immune mediators in patient plasma that provide information on differential diagnosis and disease severity and can therefore serve as biomarkers. Further studies are required for validation in bigger cohorts.

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