Changes and significance of vascular endothelial growth factor in induced sputum of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Thirty patients with stable bronchial asthma (asthma group), 28 patients with stable COPD (COPD group), and 24 healthy subjects (control group) were studied. Lung function, inflammatory cell differentials in sputum and the level of VEGF in induced sputum were determined by induced sputum method and ELISA method respectively. Results The levels of eosinophils in induced sputum in asthma group were 0.9 (0.4-1.4) × 109/L, significantly higher than those in COPD greup[0.1 (0-0.2)×109/L], and control group[0.0(0-0.1) × 109/L] (P < 0.05). The levels of neutrophils in COPD group were 2.3 (1.8-2.8) × 109/L, significantly higher than those in asthma group [1.1 (0.2-1.9) × 109/L], and control group [1.0(0.8-1.2) × 109/L] (P < 0.05). The levels of VEGF in asthma group, COPD group and control group were (2.3 ± 0.5), (0.3 ± 0.1), (0.9 ± 0.2) μg/L, respectively, and significant difference was showed between each group (P < 0.05). The VEGF level in induced sputum was positively correlated with the number of eosinophils in induced sputum in asthma group (γ = 0.62,P < 0.05), and was negatively correlated with FEV<,1>% (γ =-0.56, P < 0.05). The VEGF level in induced sputum was positively correlated with FEV1% in COPD group (γ = 0.43, P < 0.05), and was not correlated with the number of neutrophils in induced sputum (γ = 0.21, P > 0.05). Conclusions The concentration of VEGF in induced sputum increases in patients with bronchial asthma. VEGF may take part in the airway inflammatory development of asthma. The concentration of VEGF in induced sputum decreases in patients with COPD. VEGF may take part in the incidence of COPD.