The Expression Of RELMβ In Lungs From Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective RELMP (Resistin like molecule beta) is a newly identified human member of the resisitin gene family. Many studies showed that the most related human homolog of HIMF(Hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor), RELMP, is specifically expressed in the lung tissue. It was shown to be strongly increase the pulmonary inflammation, induce collagen deposition, exert pro-proliferative properties and others. They were associated with airway remodeling in the lung. To investigate the distribution and expression of RELMβin lungs from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its correlation with airway inflammation and airflow limitation, further explore the role of RELMP in the pathogenesis of COPD.Methods According to the latest COPD diagnostic criteria,19 patients with lung cancer underwent pneumonectomy were divided into COPD group (10 cases) and normal lung function group (9 cases). The clinical data including age, sex, smoking index and pulmonary function were recorded in all subjects before the operation. Select the fresh normal lung tissues without cancer cells from the surgical specimens, and then observe pathomorphological changes of the lung tissues by routine H.E dyeing. The expression of RELMβin the lung tissues was identified by immunohistochemistry. The correlation test was used to assess relationships between RELMP in lungs of group COPD and some clinical data. Lung tissue extracts were analyzed for RELMP by Western blot.Results The smoking index in COPD group was significantly higher than that in normal lung function group (P<0.01). In the COPD group, HE-staining showed alveolar structural destruction, inflammation cell infiltration around bronchi and pulmonary arterial remodeling. The RELMP protein in COPD group(2.657±0.387)was significantly higher than those in non-COPD group(0.386±0.072)(P<0.05). The correlation analysis showed that RELMβwas negatively correlated with FEV1/FVC%and FEV1/pre%(P<0.05), but positively correlated with smoking index(P<0.01).The RELMP protein expression levels was showed a downward tendency in the colon carcinoma of positive control group, the lung tissues of COPD group and non-COPD group by Western blot.Conclusions The RELMβprotein levels in lung tissues of COPD patients were increased, and it were closely related to the smoking index and airway limitation. The results suggest that RELMβmay participate and promote in the occurrence and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.