Identification of novel diagnostic biomarkers for asthma and COPD

January 01, 0001

Identification of novel diagnostic biomarkers for asthma and COPD

Proteomics may identify a useful panel of biomarkers for identification of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study by researchers from Australia was to conduct an unsupervised analysis of peripheral blood proteins in well characterised subjects with asthma and COPD, and identify and validate a biomarker panel for disease discrimination.

Seventy-two protein spots displayed significantly different expression levels between the three subject groupings. 58 were positively identified representing 20 unique proteins. A panel of four biomarkers (¡-2 macroglobulin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin and hemopexin) was able to discriminate with statistical significance between the clinical groups of asthma, COPD, and controls, and these results were confirmed in a second clinical population of older adults with airflow obstruction.

The researchers concluded: "Proteomics has identified novel biomarkers for asthma and COPD, and shown that the iron metabolism pathways and acute phase response may be involved in the pathogenesis of airway disease. The panel of peripheral blood biomarkers has the potential to become an extremely useful addition to the clinical diagnosis and management of respiratory disease."

Maybe, one day …


For the full abstract, click here.

Am J Respir Crit Care Med published online 18 March 2011
© 2011 American Thoracic Society
Identification of Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers for Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Nicole M Verrills, Jennifer A Irwin, Xiao Yan He et al. Correspondence to Peter Gibson: [email protected]

Category: R. Respiratory . Keywords: plasma proteomics, biomarkers, asthma, COPD, logistic regression, cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 15 April 2011

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