Plasma advanced glycation end-products and skin autofluorescence are increased in COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. These conditions may lead to advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). In this study we investigated in patients and 55 control subjects (80% ex-smokers) the association of the protein-bound AGEs Nepsilon- (carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), pentosidine, Nepsilon-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL) and AGE accumulation in skin by skin fluorescence (AFR) with lung function. Plasma CML (COPD: 61.6+/-15.6, smokers: 80.7+/-19.8 , ex-smokers: 82.9+/-19.3 nmol.mmol-1 lysine) was and CEL (COPD: 39.1+/-10.9, never smokers: 30.4+/-5.0, ex-smokers : nmol.mmol-1 lysine), and AFR (COPD: 3.33+/-0.67, never smokers: 2.24+/- ex-smokers: 2.31+/-0.47 AU) were increased in COPD compared to the Disease state was inversely associated with CML, and linearly with CEL Performing regression analyses in the total group, CEL and AFR were CML was positive associated with lung function, even after correction potential confounders. In conclusion, CEL and AFR were negatively and positively associated with disease state. Only in the total group, the showed an association with FEV1. Our data suggest that AGEs are involved pathophysiology of COPD, although their exact role remains to be