Increased total serum levels of ghrelin and nesfatin in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive airflow obstruction and chronic airway inflammation that occurs as a result of the inflammatory processes against harmful irritants and chemicals. Today it is known that inflammation in COPD is not only limited to lung but it also has systemic properties. Nesfatin is described as an adipokine and involved in inflammatory responses in many chronic inflammatory diseases besides regulation of energy metabolism. Ghrelin is a hormone secreted by gastric oxyntic glands. It induces food intake, adiposity, and balances energy homeostasis. Recently nesfatin and ghrelin were described as anti-inflammatory agents. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate serum levels of nesfatin and ghrelin in COPD patients to have clues about their role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Methods: This study was performed on 27 COPD patients and 16 healthy controls. Blood samples were collected in tubes without EDTA. Serum levels of ghrelin and nesfatin were measured by human ELISA assay kits. Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS 16.0 package program. Differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. Results: Serum level of ghrelin was detected as 120.21 ± 1.61 pg/ml in the COPD and 108.07 ± 5.67 pg/ml in the control group. Serum level of nesfatin was detected as 28.88 ± 1.13 pg/ml in the COPD and 25.18 ± 1.59 pg/ml in the control group. Serum levels of ghrelin and nesfatin were significantly higher in COPD group compared to the control group (respectively; p = 0.018, p = 0.05). Conclusion: Ghrelin and nesfatin may play role as anti-inflammatory agents in the inflammatory processes of COPD.