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Iron concentration in exhaled breath condensates decreases in ever-smokers and COPD patients
Citation:
Ghio, Andy, J. Soukup, J. Mcgee, M. Madden, AND C. Esther Jr. Iron concentration in exhaled breath condensates decreases in ever-smokers and COPD patients. Journal of Breath Research. Institute of Physics Publishing, Bristol, Uk, 12(4):046009, (2018). https://doi.org/10.1088/1752-7163/aad825
Impact/Purpose:
This study reports an association between iron homeostasis and both smoking and a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), both particle-related lung injuries, by measuring metal concentrations in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples from non-smoker controls, smoker controls, and individuals diagnosed to have COPD. Results reflect an increased burden of particle in the lower respiratory tract of smokers and patients with COPD and the capacity of the particle to complex iron.
Description:
Abstract Investigation employing bronchoalveolar lavage supports both increased and decreased iron concentrations in the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of smokers. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is an alternative approach to sampling the ELF. We evaluated for an association between iron homeostasis and both smoking and a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by measuring metal concentrations in EBC samples from non-smoker controls, smoker controls, and individuals diagnosed to have COPD. The total number of EBC specimens was 194. EBC iron and zinc concentrations (mean ± standard error) in the total study population were 0.610 ± 0.025 and 40.73 ± 1.79 ppb respectively. In linear regressions, total cigarette smoking in pack years showed a significant (negative) relationship with EBC iron concentration but not with EBC zinc concentration. Iron concentrations in EBC from GOLD stage II, III, and IV patients were all significantly decreased relative to those from non-smoker and smoker controls. In contrast to iron, zinc concentrations in EBC were not significantly different than those from non-smoker and smoker controls. It is concluded that smoking decreases EBC iron concentrations and patients diagnosed to have COPD have significantly lower EBC iron concentrations. These results likely reflect an increased burden of cigarette smoke particle in the lower respiratory tract of ever-smokers and patients with COPD and the capacity of components in this particle to complex iron.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Iron concentration in exhaled breath condensates decreases in ever-smokers and COPD patients