Serum hyaluronidase-1 is increased in COPD exacerbations and is associated with COPD severity and outcomes

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a dynamic glycosaminoglycan of the lung with high daily turnover. Hyaluronidases (HYAL) degrade HA in small fragments that have pro-inflammatory properties and are implicated in lung diseases including COPD. We have previously shown that acute exacerbations of COPD are associated with increased levels and activity of HYAL in bronchoalveolar lavage. Here, we assessed serum levels of HYAL-1, the main HYAL in serum, in 638 COPD patients, at stable state, at exacerbation and 4 weeks after exacerbations, using ELISA. Substrate zymography was used to evaluate the activity of HYAL in serum.Serum levels of HYAL-1 were positively correlated with age (p<0.001) and comorbidities (p<0.001) and inversely correlated with 6-minute walking distance (p=0.001). HYAL-1 was significantly increased in serum of COPD patients, as compared to sex- and age-matched controls (p<0.001). HYAL-1 was elevated at moderate (p=0.004) and severe exacerbations (p=0.003) and decreased to baseline levels 4 weeks after exacerbations (p<0.001). Enzymatic activity of HYAL in serum was evident as a single lysis band that migrated with a molecular mass of 57 kDa and corresponded to HYAL-1. HYAL-1 enzymatic activity was inversely correlated with FEV1% predicted (rho=-0.109, p=0.034), indicating that enzymatic degradation of HA is associated with airflow limitation and impairment of lung function.Our results indicate that COPD is associated with increased systemic levels of HYAL-1 and...
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Airway Cell Biology and Immunopathology Source Type: research