The Discussion Of The Serum Levels Of APN And TNF-α On The Pathogenesis Of COPD At Different Altitudes

Objective: To discuss the effect of the serum levels of APN and TNF-α and theinfluence of high altitude hypoxia environment on the pathogenesis of chronicobstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). By observing the serum levels of APN andTNF-α of the patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease (AECOPD) and stationary phase at different altitude. Methods:86patientswith COPD (46AECOPD,42stationary phase) and40healthy subjects at moderatealtitude of Xining (2,260m) and57patients with COPD (29AECOPD,28stationaryphase) and30healthy subjects at high-altitude of Hainan State (3,200m) wereselected. The serum levels of APN and TNF-α were measured by usingdouble-antibody sandwich (ELISA). Results:①The serum level of APN in themoderate and high altitude AECOPD groups were significantly lower than that in thestationary phase and control groups (p<0.001), and the serum level of APN in thestationary phase group were significantly lower than that in the control group(p<0.001). There were no significantly difference between moderate and highaltitude COPD groups on the serum levels of APN (p>0.05).②The serum level ofTNF-α in the moderate and high altitude AECOPD groups were significantly higherthan that in the stationary phase and control groups (p<0.001), and the serum level ofAPN in the stationary phase group were significantly higher than that in the controlgroup (p<0.001).③The serum level of TNF-α of the high altitude AECOPD andstationary phase groups were significantly higher than that in the moderate altitudeCOPD groups (p<0.01). There were not statistically different between moderate andhigh altitude control groups on the serum level of TNF-α (p>0.05).④The serumlevel of APN were inversely correlated with the serum level of TNF-α in themoderate altitude AECOPD, stationary phase and control groups (r=－0.612,p<0.001).⑤The serum level of APN were inversely correlated with the serum levelof TNF-α in the high altitude AECOPD, stationary phase and control groups (r=－0.697, p<0.001). Conclusions: The results show that APN and TNF-α may be involved in the systemic inflammation of COPD which significantly associated withthe stage of disease. Interactions of APN and TNF-α may be played some role in thepathogenesis of COPD.