Carnosine, oxidative and carbonyl stress, antioxidants and muscle fiber characteristics of quadriceps muscle of patients with COPD

Jana de Brandt (1) , Chris Burtin (1) , Pascal Pomiès (2, 3) , Frank Vandenabeele (1) , Kenneth Verboven (1) , Joseph Aumann (4) , Laura Blancquaert (5) , Inge Everaert (5) , Lisa van Ryckeghem (1) , Jirka Cops (1) , Maurice Hayot (2, 3) , Martijn Spruit (6) , Wim Derave (5)

1 UHasselt - Hasselt University
2 PhyMedExp - Physiologie & médecine expérimentale du Cœur et des Muscles [U 1046]
3 CHRU Montpellier - Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire [Montpellier]
4 Jessa Ziekenhuis [Hasselt]
5 UGENT - Universiteit Gent = Ghent University
6 MUMC - Maastricht University Medical Centre

Background: Oxidative/carbonyl stress is elevated in lower-limb muscles of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Carnosine is a skeletal muscle antioxidant particularly present in fast-twitch fibers. Aims: To compare muscle carnosine, oxidative/carbonyl stress, antioxidants and fiber characteristics between patients with COPD and healthy controls (HCs), and between patients after stratification for airflow limitation (mild/moderate vs. severe/very-severe). To investigate correlates of carnosine in patients with COPD. Methods: A vastus lateralis muscle biopsy was obtained from 40 patients with stable COPD and 20 age/sex matched HCs. Carnosine, oxidative/carbonyl stress, antioxidants, fiber characteristics, quadriceps strength and endurance (QE), VO 2 peak (incremental cycle test) and physical activity (PA) were determined. Results: Patients with COPD had a similar carnosine concentration (4.16 mmol/kg wet weight (WW) (SD 1.93)) to HCs (4.64 mmol/kgWW (SD 1.71)) and significantly higher percentage of fast-twitch fibers and lower QE, VO 2 peak and PA vs. HCs. Patients with severe/very-severe COPD had a 30% lower carnosine concentration (3.24 mmol/kgWW (SD 1.79); n=15) vs. patients with mild/moderate COPD (4.71 mmol/kgWW (SD 1.83); n=25; P=0.02) and significantly lower VO 2 peak and PA vs. patients with mild/moderate COPD. Carnosine correlated significantly with QE (r s =0.427), VO 2 peak (r s =0.334), PA (r s =0.379) and lung function parameters in patients with COPD. Conclusion: Despite having the highest proportion of fast-twitch fibers, patients with severe/very-severe COPD displayed a 30% lower muscle carnosine concentration compared to patients with mild/moderate COPD. As no oxidative/carbonyl stress markers, nor antioxidants were affected, the observed carnosine deficiency is thought to be a possible first sign of muscle redox balance abnormalities.

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Physiologie [q-bio.TO]

Jana de Brandt, Chris Burtin, Pascal Pomiès, Frank Vandenabeele, Kenneth Verboven, et al.. Carnosine, oxidative and carbonyl stress, antioxidants and muscle fiber characteristics of quadriceps muscle of patients with COPD. Journal of Applied Physiology, 2021, 131 (4), pp.1230-1240. ⟨10.1152/japplphysiol.00200.2021⟩. ⟨hal-03310531⟩