Differential DAMP release was observed in the sputum of COPD, asthma and asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) patients.

Huang X, Tan X, Liang Y, Hou C, Qu D, Li M, Huang Q

Scientific reports17 Dec 2019Cited by 35 (Europe PMC)

PMID31848359PMCIDPMC6917785DOI10.1038/s41598-019-55502-2PepBankPUB-31848359

Summary

Asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) has been under intensive focus; however, the levels of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that can activate the innate and adaptive immune responses of ACO are unknown. The present study aimed to examine the levels of some DAMPs in asthma, COPD, and ACO and to identify the associations between clinical characteristics and DAMPs in ACO. Sputum from subjects with asthma (n = 87) or COPD (n = 73) and ACO (n = 68) or from smokers (n = 62) and never-smokers (n = 62) was analyzed for high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), LL-37, S100A8, and galectin-3 (Gal-3). The concentration of HMGB1, HSP70, LL-37, and S100A8 proteins in sputum from ACO patients was significantly elevated, whereas that of Gal-3 was reduced, compared to that of smokers and never-smokers. The levels of HMGB1 and Gal-3 proteins in ACO patients were elevated compared to those in asthma patients. The sputum from ACO patients showed an increase in the levels of LL-37 and S100A8 proteins compared to that of asthma patients, whereas the levels decreased compared to those of COPD patients. The concentrations of HMGB1, HSP70, LL-37, and S100A8 proteins in the sputum of 352 participants were negatively correlated, whereas the levels of Gal-3 were positively correlated, with FEV1, FEV1%pred, and FEV1/FVC. Sputum HMGB1 had a high AUC of the ROC curve while distinguishing ACO patients from asthma patients. Meanwhile, sputum LL-37 had a high AUC of the ROC curve in differentiating asthma and COPD. The release of sputum DAMPs in ACO may be involved in chronic airway inflammation in ACO; the sputum HMGB1 level might serve as a valuable biomarker for distinguishing ACO from asthma, and the sputum LL-37 level might be a biomarker for differentiating asthma and COPD.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured5

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

01HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
Across 352 participants, sputum LL‑37 concentration was negatively correlated with FEV1, FEV1%pred and FEV1/FVC.
In plain wordsHigher natural LL‑37 levels in sputum were linked to poorer lung function measures.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
Not applicableCorrelation of sputum LL-37 with lung function (FEV1, FEV1%pred, FEV1/FVC)
Study
n = 352
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Respiratory
Source sentences
Summary
The concentrations of HMGB1, HSP70, LL-37, and S100A8 proteins in the sputum of 352 participants were negatively correlated, whereas the levels of Gal-3 were positively correlated, with FEV1, FEV1%pred, and FEV1/FVC.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Sputum from subjects with asthma (n = 87) or COPD (n = 73) and ACO (n = 68) or from smokers (n = 62) and never-smokers (n = 62) was analyzed for high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), LL-37, S100A8, and galectin-3 (Gal-3).
This result measures the body's own LL-37. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3184835904
02HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
Sputum LL‑37 concentration was significantly higher in patients with asthma-COPD overlap than in smokers and never-smokers.
In plain wordsNatural LL‑37 levels in sputum were higher in people with asthma-COPD overlap than in smokers and never-smokers.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
IncreaseSputum LL-37 in ACO versus smokers and never-smokers
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Smokers and never-smokers
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Respiratory
Source sentences
Summary
The concentration of HMGB1, HSP70, LL-37, and S100A8 proteins in sputum from ACO patients was significantly elevated, whereas that of Gal-3 was reduced, compared to that of smokers and never-smokers.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Sputum from subjects with asthma (n = 87) or COPD (n = 73) and ACO (n = 68) or from smokers (n = 62) and never-smokers (n = 62) was analyzed for high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), LL-37, S100A8, and galectin-3 (Gal-3).
This result measures the body's own LL-37. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3184835901
03HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
Sputum LL‑37 was higher in patients with asthma-COPD overlap than in patients with asthma.
In plain wordsNatural LL‑37 levels in sputum were higher in people with asthma-COPD overlap than in people with asthma.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
IncreaseSputum LL-37 in ACO versus asthma
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Asthma patients
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Respiratory
Source sentences
Summary
The sputum from ACO patients showed an increase in the levels of LL-37 and S100A8 proteins compared to that of asthma patients
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Sputum from subjects with asthma (n = 87) or COPD (n = 73) and ACO (n = 68) or from smokers (n = 62) and never-smokers (n = 62) was analyzed for high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), LL-37, S100A8, and galectin-3 (Gal-3).
This result measures the body's own LL-37. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3184835902
04HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
Sputum LL‑37 was lower in patients with asthma-COPD overlap than in patients with COPD.
In plain wordsNatural LL‑37 levels in sputum were lower in people with asthma-COPD overlap than in people with COPD.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
DecreaseSputum LL-37 in ACO versus COPD
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
COPD patients
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Respiratory
Source sentences
Summary
The sputum from ACO patients showed an increase in the levels of LL-37 and S100A8 proteins compared to that of asthma patients, whereas the levels decreased compared to those of COPD patients.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Sputum from subjects with asthma (n = 87) or COPD (n = 73) and ACO (n = 68) or from smokers (n = 62) and never-smokers (n = 62) was analyzed for high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), LL-37, S100A8, and galectin-3 (Gal-3).
This result measures the body's own LL-37. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3184835903
05HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
Sputum LL‑37 had a high ROC AUC for differentiating asthma from COPD.
In plain wordsNatural LL‑37 levels in sputum separated asthma from COPD well in this study.
Peptide
LL-37
Outcome
Not applicableSputum LL-37 as biomarker to differentiate asthma and COPD
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Respiratory
Source sentences
Summary
Meanwhile, sputum LL-37 had a high AUC of the ROC curve in differentiating asthma and COPD.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Sputum from subjects with asthma (n = 87) or COPD (n = 73) and ACO (n = 68) or from smokers (n = 62) and never-smokers (n = 62) was analyzed for high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), LL-37, S100A8, and galectin-3 (Gal-3).
This result measures the body's own LL-37. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3184835905

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 3Current
9 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
Study results updated
Version 2
9 Oct 2026, 03:03 UTC
Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:57 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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