Limb muscle dysfunction, characterized by atrophy and weakness, is amongst the most troublesome systemic consequences of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leading to poor functional status and premature mortality. One prevailing hypothesis stipulates that the deterioration in muscle structure and function during COPD results from a spillover of inflammatory mediators from the lungs to the systemic circulation and then to the muscles.
The investigators objective is to investigate the impact of COPD on key signaling pathways involved in the muscle atrophy. Moderate to severe COPD patients (FEV1 under 60% of predicted) and healthy controls will be recruited. All of the investigators patients will undergo a thorough baseline assessment in pulmonary capacity, muscle force and body composition. Blood sampling and biopsy of the quadriceps will be done. Key proteins of signaling intramuscular pathways involved in protein synthesis and degradation will be measured in the quadriceps.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
36
No specific intervention for this study
Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec
Québec, Quebec, Canada
Decrease of protein degradation in muscles of wasted COPD patients
Time frame: At baseline (COPD in a stable state of the disease)
Increase of protein synthesis in muscles of wasted COPD patients
Time frame: At baseline (COPD in a stable state of the disease)
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