Frontiers in Medicine (Feb 2023)

Circulating levels of mitochondrial oxidative stress-related peptides MOTS-c and Romo1 in stable COPD: A cross-sectional study

  • Carlos A. Amado,
  • Carlos A. Amado,
  • Carlos A. Amado,
  • Paula Martín-Audera,
  • Juan Agüero,
  • Bernardo A. Lavín,
  • Armando R. Guerra,
  • Daymara Boucle,
  • Diego Ferrer-Pargada,
  • Ana Berja,
  • Fernando Martín,
  • Ciro Casanova,
  • Mayte García-Unzueta,
  • Mayte García-Unzueta

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1100211
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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BackgroundMOTS-c and Romo1 are mitochondrial peptides that are modulated by oxidative stress. No previous studies have explored circulating levels of MOTS-c in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsWe enrolled 142 patients with stable COPD and 47 smokers with normal lung function in an observational cross-sectional study. We assessed serum levels of both MOTS-c and Romo1 and associated these findings with clinical characteristics of COPD.ResultsCompared with smokers with normal lung function, patients with COPD had lower levels of MOTS-c (p = 0.02) and higher levels of Romo1 (p = 0.01). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that above-median MOTS-c levels were positively associated with Romo1 levels (OR 1.075, 95% CI 1.005–1.150, p = 0.036), but no association was found with other COPD characteristics. Below-median levels of circulating MOTS-c were associated with oxygen desaturation (OR 3.25 95% CI 1.456–8.522, p = 0.005) and walking <350 meters (OR 3.246 95% CI 1.229–8.577, p = 0.018) in six-minute walk test. Above-median levels of Romo1 were positively associated with current smoking (OR 2.756, 95% CI 1.133–6.704, p = 0.025) and negatively associated with baseline oxygen saturation (OR 0.776 95% CI 0.641–0.939, p = 0.009).ConclusionsReduced levels of circulating MOTS-c and increased levels of Romo1 were detected in patients diagnosed with COPD. Low levels of MOTS-c were associated with oxygen desaturation and poorer exercise capacity using 6 min walk test. Romo1 was associated with current smoking and baseline oxygen saturation.Trial registrationwww.clinicaltrials.gov; No.: NCT04449419; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov. Date of registration: June 26, 2020.

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