S93 Pulmonary matrix metalloproteinases and small airways disease in COPD – the origins of airflow obstruction?

Ostridge, Kristoffer K, Williams, N., Kim, V., Bennett, M., Harden, S., Welch, Lindsay, Bourne, Steve, Coombs, N., Elkington, Paul, Staples, Karl and Wilkinson, Tom M.A. (2015) S93 Pulmonary matrix metalloproteinases and small airways disease in COPD – the origins of airflow obstruction? Thorax, 70 (Suppl 3).

Abstract

Introduction and objectives
Matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes that can degrade the extra-cellular matrix (ECM) and drive tissue remodelling, key processes in the pathogenesis of COPD. The development of small airway disease and emphysema have been identified as critical mechanisms in the development of airflow obstruction but the contribution of MMPs in human disease is poorly characterised.
We investigated the role of MMPs in the lung by quantifying levels and determining relationships with the key pathological components of COPD, measured by CT, in patients and healthy controls.
Methods
24 mild and moderate COPD and 8 control subjects were enrolled onto the study and underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and high resolution CT. We analysed levels of MMPs in BAL using a Luminex immunoassay. Image analysis, performed using VIDA Apollo software, quantitatively …

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Contributors

Author: Lindsay Welch

Author: Paul Elkington

Author: Karl Staples

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