Physical inactivity is associated with decreased growth differentiation factor 11 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is reported to possess anti-aging and rejuvenating effects, including muscle regeneration and to be highly expressed in skeletal muscle. Recently, we demonstrated that the levels of plasma GDF11 were decreased in COPD. However, the effect of decreased circulating GDF11 in the pathophysiology of COPD remains unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the plasma GDF11 levels and various clinical parameters in patients with COPD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Eighteen ex-smokers as control subjects and 70 COPD patients participated in the current study. We measured the levels of plasma GDF11 using immunoblotting, lung function, physical activity using a triaxial accelerometer, quadriceps strength, exercise capacity, and systemic inflammatory markers. We investigated the association between the levels of plasma GDF11 and these clinical parameters.

RESULTS:

The levels of plasma GDF11 in the COPD patients had significant positive correlations with the data of lung function. Furthermore, the levels of plasma GDF11 were significantly correlated with the physical activity, quadriceps strength, and exercise capacity. Moreover, the levels of plasma GDF11 were significantly correlated with the data of inflammatory markers. Although various factors were related to GDF11, the multiple regression analysis showed that physical activity was significantly associated with the levels of plasma GDF11.

CONCLUSION:

Physical inactivity was significantly related to the decreased GDF11 levels in COPD, which might be useful for understanding the pathogenesis of COPD. Clarifying the relationships between the physical inactivity and GDF11 may reveal a potentially attractive therapeutic approach in COPD via increasing the plasma levels of GDF11.

• Authors: Rie Tanaka, Hisatoshi Sugiura, Mitsuhiro Yamada, Tomohiro Ichikawa, Akira Koarai, Naoya Fujino, Satoru Yanagisawa, Katsuhiro Onodera, Tadahisa Numakura, Kei Sato, Yorihiko Kyogoku, Hirohito Sano, Shun Yamanaka, Tatsuma Okazaki, Tsutomu Tamada, Motohiko Miura, Tsuneyuki Takahashi, Masakazu Ichinose
• Journal: International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis) 2018 Vol. 13 Pg. 1333-1342 ISSN: 1178-2005 [Electronic] New Zealand
• PMID: 29731621 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
• GDF11 protein, human
• Growth Differentiation Factors
• Inflammation Mediators

Topics

• Aged
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Down-Regulation
• Exercise
• Exercise Tolerance
• Female
• Growth Differentiation Factors (blood)
• Health Status
• Humans
• Inflammation Mediators (blood)
• Lung (physiopathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Muscle Strength
• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (blood, diagnosis, physiopathology)
• Quadriceps Muscle (physiopathology)
• Sedentary Behavior