Biomarkers to predict FEV1 decline in smokers and early-onset COPD

Introduction: FEV1 is the standard clinical marker of COPD, but biomarkers (BM) capable of predicting the onset or progression of disease are needed. Objective: identify BM of clinical utility in the diagnosis and prediction possibilities in FEV1 decliners. Materials and Methods: We conducted a metabolomic analysis in individuals from the CHAIN cohort. For this purpose, blood and post-bronchodilator FEV1 were recorded. Two groups of comparisons were carried out in mild COPD (mCOPD) (n=31) and smokers without COPD as control (C) (n=31). The test by GC-MS and FIA was performed. The results were processed to construct PLS-DA and compare the metabolomic profiles obtained. Results: PLS-DA notably differentiates mCOPD from C (Fig. 1A, 1B, and 1C). Oleic acid, palmitic acid, urea, inositol, and glucose had the best AUC values in the group with accelerated FEV1 decline (Table2). Additionally, we observed a decrease in fatty acids and amino acids (phenylalanine, leucine, pyroglutamate, proline, threonine, and valine) in contrast to the increase in phosphocholine (Fig. 2A and 2B). Conclusions: Smokers can experience accelerated declines in lung function similar to those seen in mCOPD. Metabolomic analysis identified six metabolites associated with rapid functional decline. Acknowledgment: Scholarship not conditioned by Menarini laboratories. Scholarship not conditioned by AstraZeneca laboratories. Scholarship project IIS-AES PI16/01