engleski

N-glycosylation patterns of plasma proteins and immunoglobulin G in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex condition and its diagnosis requires spirometric assessment. However, considering heterogeneity of this disease, subjects with similar spirometric parameters do not necessarily have the same functional status. To overcome this limitation novel biomarkers for COPD have been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to examine the potential use of N-glycans in distinguishing individuals with COPD, encompassing also different stages of the disease, from the healthy controls. Both total plasma protein and immunoglobulin G N- glycome have been profiled in the total of 137 patients with COPD and 95 matching controls from Croatia. Replication cohort consisted of 61 subjects with COPD and 148 controls recruited at another Croatian medical centre. Plasma protein N- glycome in COPD subjects exhibited significant decrease in low branched and conversely, an increase in more complex glycan structures (tetragalactosylated, tri- and tetrasialylated, antennary fucosylated glycoforms). We also observed a significant decline in plasma monogalactosylated species, and the same changes replicated in IgG glycome. N-glycans also showed value in distinguishing subjects in different GOLD stages of COPD, and demonstrated to be affected by smoking, which is the major risk factor for COPD development. This study showed that complexity of glycans associates with COPD, mirroring as well the disease severity, and pointed out potential novel markers of the disease progression.

COPD, N-glycans, HILIC-UPLC, plasma proteins, IgG

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