The role of FUT8 in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The physiological relevance of core fucosylation in the pathogenesis of COPD was investigated using cigarette smoke exposed Fut8 heterozygous knockout mice. A marked decrease in FUT8 activity and elevated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activities were observed at an early stage of exposure. Emphysema developed in only half the exposed-period required for wild type mice. TGF-beta1-Smad2 signaling pathway has lost its function. Moreover, our investigation showed that, among symptomatic current or ex-smokers with stable COPD or at risk outpatients (n=226), a faster annual decline of the forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) was significantly associated with lower FUT8 activity. Patients with lower FUT8 activity experienced exacerbations more frequently. These data suggest that reduced FUT8 activity is associated with the progression of COPD and serum FUT8 activity is a minimally invasive predictive biomarker for progression and exacerbation of COPD.