Evaluating the Roles of sCD14 and sCD14-ST in Diagnosing COPD and Predicting an Acute Exacerbation of COPD

Abstract

Abstract Aim To evaluate the roles of plasma soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14) and sCD14 subtype (sCD14-ST) in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in the prediction of an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Methods We quantified the levels of white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, sCD14, and sCD14-ST in patients with COPD and healthy controls. The relationships between sCD14 or sCD14-ST and inflammatory markers were analyzed in each group. We used receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves to evaluate the potential roles of sCD14 and sCD14-ST in the diagnosis of COPD and in predicting AECOPD. Results A total of 62 subjects were recruited, including 15 controls and 47 COPD patients, with the latter including 32 stable COPD and 15 AECOPD. WBC, IL-8, sCD14, and sCD14-ST were significantly higher in COPD than in the controls (all P < 0.05). WBC, CRP, ESR, IL-6, IL-8, sCD14, and sCD14-ST were higher in AECOPD than in the controls (all P < 0.05). In the COPD group, sCD14 levels were positively correlated with WBC, IL-8, and sCD14-ST (P < 0.05), and sCD14-ST levels were positively correlated with WBC and IL-8 (P < 0.05). In the AECOPD group, sCD14 was positively correlated with WBC, CRP, IL-8, and sCD14-ST (P < 0.05); sCD14-ST was positively correlated with WBC, IL-6, and IL-8 (P < 0.05). Discrimination between COPD and controls was tested by calculating areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) for sCD14 and sCD14-ST showing scores of 0.765 (95% CI 0.648–0.883) and 0.735 (95% CI 0.537–0.933) respectively. Similarly, discrimination between AECOPD and controls using sCD14 and sCD14-ST showed scores of 0.862 (95% CI 0.714–1.000) and 0.773 (95% CI 0.587–0.960), respectively. Conclusion Our study suggests that the inflammatory markers sCD14 and sCD14-ST might play an important diagnostic role in COPD and help predict AECOPD.