[DNA damage in lymphocytes from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship of DNA damage in lymphocytes with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS

Levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in peripheral lymphocytes were measured by Western blot in 20 COPD patients with smoking, 20 healthy smoking control subjects and 15 healthy nonsmokers. DNA damage in the lymphocytes was detected by Comet Assay.

RESULTS

DNA damage score was 42.1 +/- 10.2, 17.4 +/- 9.3 and 10.1 +/- 3.6 in COPD patients, healthy smoking control subjects and healthy nonsmokers, respectively; the score was higher in COPD patients than that in healthy smoking control subjects, and was higher in smokers than in nonsmokers (P < 0.01). The levels of HSP70 (absorbency value) were 20.9 +/- 9.9, 44.8 +/- 15.3 and 56.1 +/- 18.9, respectively, and the difference was significant among the three groups (P < 0.05). The level of HSP70 showed a strongly negative correlation with DNA damage scores (r = -0.73, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

DNA damage may be involved in the pathogenesis of COPD. The difference of HSP70 level may be associated with the level of DNA damage.