AUTHOR=Marques Patrice , Bocigas Irene , Domingo Elena , Francisco Vera , Tarraso Julia , Garcia-Sanjuan Yolanda , Morcillo Esteban J. , Piqueras Laura , Signes-Costa Jaime , González Cruz , Sanz Maria-Jesus TITLE=Key role of activated platelets in the enhanced adhesion of circulating leucocyte-platelet aggregates to the dysfunctional endothelium in early-stage COPD JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=15 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1441637 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2024.1441637 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), usually caused by long-term tobacco smoking, is independently associated with systemic inflammation. However, little is known about the systemic inflammatory status of patients with early-stage COPD (classified as GOLD 1) and long-term smokers with normal lung function (LF). Here, we characterised the early changes in the associated inflammatory state in patients with GOLD 1 and in long-term smokers with normal LF.

Methods

Fresh blood samples from 27 patients with GOLD 1, 27 long-term smokers and 14 non-smokers were analysed.

Results

Ex vivo blood analysis revealed greater leucocyte-platelet adhesion to TNFα-stimulated pulmonary endothelium in patients with GOLD 1 than in smokers and non-smokers. In addition, platelet reactivity (platelet count and activation, and fibrinogen levels) and the frequency of leucocyte-platelet aggregates were higher in the GOLD 1 group than in the other groups. Some of these findings correlated with the severity of lung dysfunction, while platelet hyperactivity correlated positively with leucocyte-platelet adhesion. The GOLD 1 group also had a higher Th17/Treg ratio and higher circulating levels of IL-17C and C-reactive protein than the other groups. However, long-term smokers also had higher leucocyte counts and activation, and higher plasma levels of TNFα and IL-6 than non-smokers.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that the altered inflammatory parameters in long-term smokers may represent early biomarkers of COPD. Accordingly, peripheral immune monitoring based on the above parameters may be useful to prevent disease progression in long-term smokers with normal LF and early COPD.