Soluble forms of leukocyte differentiation antigens in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their relation with pulmonary ventilation disorders

Objective: to study the characteristics of soluble forms of leukocyte membrane molecules and their relationship with disease progression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Materials and Methods. The study involved 50 patients with COPD. All the patients underwent physical examination, spirometry; serum concentration of antigens sCD54, sCD50, sCD38, sCD25, sCD8, sCD95, sHLA I, sHLA-DR was assessed by ELISA, and the results were compared with serum samples of 30 healthy donors. Results. The level of all soluble forms of membrane molecules of leukocytes decreased in patients with severe COPD. We have found the increased content of the differentiation molecules in patients with moderate COPD, indicating the activation of immune cells during the immune response. Conclusion. There was a correlation between the soluble forms of membrane molecules and impaired pulmonary ventilation, which confirmed the role of immune cells in the pathogenesis of COPD.