Evaluation of platelet GPIIb rs5911 polymorphism in relation to inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has susceptibility to inflammation, and hence demands investigation for/on its association with systemic inflammatory cytokines. Here, we evaluated platelet GPIIb rs5911 polymorphism and its relevance to inflammation in COPD patients using biomarkers. The study enrolled COPD patients (n=40) from S B Sureyyapasa Thoracic Disease Research & Training Hospital during May 2009 to December 2011 and healthy volunteers (n=24) from the Faculty of Pharmacy Laboratories, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey. Patient demographics, smoking habits, duration of COPD, co-morbidities, hemogram, C-reactive protein, biochemical and spirometry data were collected. Biomarker's levels were quantitated by ELISA. After DNA isolation, GPIIb/Ilia and GPUb polymorphisms were determined by PCR-RFLP, and gel electrophoresis to determine ITGA2B rs5911 polymorphism. Mean age was: patients=60.3 +/- 11.8 years and controls=51.4 +/- 7.0 years. There was significant difference in patient's disease periods (acute 9.8 +/- 6.9 vs. stable 1.6 +/- 1.1 years, P <0.05). 70% COPD patients had co-morbidities. Patients vs. control levels were: IL-6 (148.4 +/- 18.4 vs. 139.6 +/- 16.3 pg/mL; P =0.60), IL-10 (119.5 +/- 30.2 vs. 106.5 +/- 13.9 pg/mL; P =0.44), TNF-a (483.8 63.7 vs. 447.3 +/- 46.3 pg/mL; P =0.018). IL-6 and IL-10 levels were found decreased while hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocyte, platelet count increased. Similarly, TNF-a also decreased while hematocrit and leukocyte increased (as the platelet counts also increased). Patient's genotypes were 41.5% T/T (homolog-normal), 38.9% T/G (heterolog-polymorphic), 19.4% G/G (homolog-polymorphic), and control's 33.3% T/T, 60% T/G, 6.7% G/G. While the T/T genotype patients were younger with longer COPD duration, G/G genotype cases were older, less smoker, and less hypertensive. The G/G genotype cases had more IL-10 vs. T/T cases. G/G genotype patients were older compared to others. Over all, the systemic inflammatory cytokine levels were relatively higher in COPD patients suggesting inflammatory response. Despite less smoking, G/G homolog polymorphism showed susceptibility to inflammation.