Correlations among Pulmonary DJ-1, VDR and Nrf-2 in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Case-control Study.

Abstract

Parkinson protein 7 (PARK7)/DJ-1 (DJ-1) is a redox sensitive molecular and stabilizer of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2). Nrf-2 regulates the downstream antioxidant defense system and exerts a significant function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is the nuclear receptor that regulates the downstream target genes. This study aimed to analyze the associations among pulmonary function, DJ-1, VDR and Nrf-2 in COPD patients. Serum was collected from 180 COPD patients and control subjects. Thirty-five lung tissues were obtained. DJ-1 was measured using ELISA and western blotting. Nrf-2 and VDR were detected by immunohistochemistry. Serum and pulmonary DJ-1 levels were lower in COPD patients than those in control subjects. Pulmonary VDR-positive nuclei were reduced in COPD patients. Nrf-2-positive nuclei were reduced in lung tissues of COPD patients. On the contrary, Nrf-2-related downstream target proteins were elevated in COPD patients. Further correlation analysis indicated that forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was positively associated with pulmonary DJ-1, VDR and Nrf-2 in patients with COPD. In addition, there were positive correlations among DJ-1, VDR and Nrf-2 in lung tissues of COPD patients. In conclusion, DJ-1, VDR and Nrf-2 were decreased in COPD patients compared with control subjects. The reduction of DJ-1 and VDR associating with Nrf-2 downregulation may be involved in the process of COPD.

• Authors: Ying Xiang, Lin Fu, Hui-Xian Xiang, Ling Zheng, Zhu-Xia Tan, Li-Xiang Wang, Wei Cao, De-Xiang Xu, Hui Zhao
• Journal: International journal of medical sciences (Int J Med Sci) Vol. 18 Issue 11 Pg. 2449-2456 ( 2021) ISSN: 1449-1907 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 33967623 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study)
• Copyright: © The author(s).

Chemical References

• NF-E2-Related Factor 2
• NFE2L2 protein, human
• Receptors, Calcitriol
• VDR protein, human
• PARK7 protein, human
• Protein Deglycase DJ-1

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Case-Control Studies
• Down-Regulation
• Female
• Humans
• Lung (pathology, physiopathology, surgery)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2 (metabolism)
• Prospective Studies
• Protein Deglycase DJ-1 (metabolism)
• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (diagnosis, pathology, physiopathology, surgery)
• Receptors, Calcitriol (metabolism)
• Respiratory Function Tests
• Severity of Illness Index