DOI: https://doi.org/10.22263/2312-4156.2025.6.56
T.H. Hardziyevich, A.V. Ishchanka
New biomarkers of local immune response as additional predictors of COPD development
Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, Vitebsk, Republic of Belarus
Vestnik VGMU. 2025;24(6):56-65.
Abstract.
Objectives. To evaluate potential immunological biomarkers of the immune response in the saliva to cigarette smoke provocation as predictors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) development.
Material and methods. A prospective analysis was conducted involving 238 volunteers. Participants were divided into 3 groups. The control group included 101 patients with COPD, grades II-III of broncho-obstruction, the comparison group consisted of 137 healthy subjects. Saliva samples were collected from all subjects at baseline and after provocative testing with a cigarette smoke extract. Immunological parameters in the saliva supernatant were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), followed by statistical data processing.
Results. For the first time, sensitive non-invasive biomarkers of the local immune response in the saliva have been discovered, which can be additional predictors of the COPD development in healthy individuals, namely, an increased level of lysozyme (p<0.0001), lactoferrin (p<0.0001), a decreased level of myeloperoxidase (p=0.004), a decrease in the level of IL-8 after a provocative oral-buccal-pharyngeal test with a cigarette smoke extract (p=0.01). Mathematical models were constructed to identify the relationship with the development of COPD in healthy individuals.
Conclusions. Noninvasive biomarkers of the local immune response in the saliva have been identified for the first time: elevated levels of lactoferrin, lysozyme, reduced levels of myeloperoxidase in patients with COPD; a decreased interleukin-8 in healthy subjects after provocative oral-buccal-pharyngeal test with a cigarette smoke extract, which have high diagnostic value and, together, can serve as additional predictors of COPD development.
Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, saliva, biomarkers, cigarette smoke extract, predictors, oral-buccal-pharyngeal provocative test.
References
1. Ellingsen J, Janson C, Bröms K, Hårdstedt M, Högman M, Lisspers K, et al. CRP, fibrinogen, white blood cells, and blood cell indices as prognostic biomarkers of future COPD exacerbation frequency: the TIE cohort study. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024 Jun;13(13):3855. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jcm13133855
2. Global strategy for prevention, diagnosis and management of COPD: 2025 Report. URL: https://goldcopd.org/2025-gold-report/ [Accessed 12th December 2025].
3. On the approval of certain clinical protocols and recognition as invalid of a separate structural element of the order of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus dated 19 May 2005. 274: prikaz M-va zdravookhraneniya Resp Belarus’ ot 5 iyulya 2012 g. № 768: v red ot 9 apr 2025 g. № 34. V: ETALON: inform-poiskovaya sistema. (In Russ.).
4. On approval of the clinical protocol «Diagnosis and treatment of patients (adult population) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease»: postanovlenie M-va zdravookhraneniya Resp Belarus’ ot 13 marta 2025 g. № 31. V: ETALON: inform-poiskovaya sistema. (In Russ.).
5. Ishchenko OV, Yupatova TG. Effect of water extract of tobacco cigarettes on the level of lysozyme and lactoferrin in oral fluid. Immunopatologiya Allergologiya Infektologiya. 2017;(4):37-43. (In Russ.). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14427/jipai.2017.4.37
6. Gordievich TG, Ishchenko OV, Shchurok IN, Semenova IV, Fedorchuk ON, Zakharova OV. Dynamics of levels of IL-8, IL-13 in the oral fluid after provocation by cigarette smoke. V: M-vo zdravookhraneniya Respubliki Belarus’, Vitebskii gos med un-t; Chukanov AN, gl red. Dostizheniya fundamental’noi, klinicheskoi meditsiny i farmatsii: materialy 79-i nauch ses VGMU, 24-25 yanv 2024 g, Vitebsk. Vitebsk, RB: VGMU; 2024. 1 CD-ROM. (In Russ.).
7. Gordievich TG, Ishchenko OV. Study of immunological indicators of oral fluid before and after provoking a solution of cigarette smoke to predict the risk of developing HBCD. Immunopatologiya Allergologiya Infektologiya. 2024;(4):70-83. (In Russ.). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14427/jipai.2024.4.70
Submitted 30.10.2025
Accepted 10.12.2025
Information about authors:
Tatyana H. Hardziyevich – senior lecturer of the Chair of Clinical Immunology and Allergology with the course of the Faculty for Advanced Training & Retraining, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University,
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1772-0839, e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.;
A.V. Ishchanka – Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor, head of the Chair of Clinical Immunology and Allergology with the course of the Faculty for Advanced Training & Retraining, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8755-7482
