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Peter Alter,1 Cosmina Stoleriu,2 Kathrin Kahnert,3,4 Markus Oliver Henke,5 Robert Bals,6 Franziska C Trudzinski,7 Henrik Watz,8 Tim Speicher,1 Sandra Söhler,1 Tobias Welte,9 Klaus F Rabe,10,11 Emiel FM Wouters,12,13 Claus F Vogelmeier,1 Rudolf A Jörres14 1Department of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Philipps University of Marburg (UMR), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany; 2Asklepios Lungenklinik Gauting, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Gauting, Germany; 3Department of Medicine V, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany; 4MediCenterGermering, Germering, Germany; 5Klinik für Innere Medizin und Pneumologie, Krankenhaus Martha-Maria, Munich, Germany; 6Department of Internal Medicine V, Pulmonology, Allergology, Intensive Care Medicine, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany; 7Department of Pneumology and Critical Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC-H), Member of the Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany; 8Pulmonary Research Institute at LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 9Clinic for Pneumology, Hannover Medical School, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany; 10LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 11Department of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany; 12Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands; 13Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Health, Vienna, Austria; 14Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, GermanyCorrespondence: Peter Alter, Department of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Philipps University of Marburg (UMR), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Baldingerstrasse 1, Marburg, 35033, Germany, Tel +49 6421 5866140, Email Alter@uni-marburg.deBackground: Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continue smoking. We used data from the “real-life” COSYCONET COPD cohort to evaluate whether these patients differed from patients with COPD who either had ceased smoking prior to inclusion or ceased during the follow-up time of the study.Methods: The analysis was based on data from visits 1– 5 (covering 4.5 years), including all patients with the diagnosis of COPD who were either ex-smokers or smokers and categorized as GOLD 1– 4 or the former GOLD 0 category. We compared the characteristics of smokers and ex-smokers at baseline (visit 1), as well as the course of lung function in the follow-up of permanent ex-smokers, permanent smokers and incident ex-smokers (smokers at visit 1 who ceased smoking before visit 5). We also identified baseline factors associated with subsequent smoking cessation.Results: Among 2500 patients who were ever-smokers, 660 were current smokers and 1840 ex-smokers at baseline. Smokers were younger than ex-smokers (mean 61.5 vs 66.0 y), had a longer duration of smoking but fewer pack-years, a lower frequency of asthma, higher forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1, 59.4 vs 55.2% predicted) and higher functional residual capacity (FRC, 147.7 vs 144.3% predicted). Similar results were obtained for the longitudinal subpopulation, comprising 713 permanent ex-smokers, 175 permanent smokers, and 55 incident ex-smokers. When analyzing the time course of lung function, higher FRC, lower FEV1 and the presence of asthma (p < 0.05 each) were associated with incident cessation prior to visit 5, while less airway obstruction was associated with smoking continuation.Conclusion: These findings, which were consistent in the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, suggest that lung hyperinflation was associated with being or becoming ex-smoker. Possibly, it is perceived by patients as one of the factors motivating their attempts to quit smoking, independent from airway obstruction.Keywords: COPD, smoking, smoking cessation, airway obstruction, lung hyperinflation

Jonathan Corren,1 David J Jackson,2,3 Thomas B Casale,4 Larry Borish,5,6 Klaus F Rabe,7,8 William W Busse,9 Jorge F Maspero,10 Daniel J Jackson,11 Nadia Daizadeh,12 Arman Altincatal,12 Amr Radwan,13 Angela Khodzhayev,13 Michel Djandji,12 Juby A Jacob-Nara,12,14 Paul J Rowe,14 Yamo Deniz13 1David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA; 2King’s College London, London, UK; 3Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; 4Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; 5Asthma and Allergic Disease Center, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA; 6Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA; 7LungenClinic Grosshansdorf (Member of the German Center for Lung Research [DZL]), Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 8Christian-Albrechts University (Member of the German Center for Lung Research [DZL]), Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Kiel, Germany; 9UW Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; 10Fundación CIDEA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 11University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; 12Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, USA; 13Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA; 14Sanofi, Bridgewater, NJ, USACorrespondence: Jonathan Corren, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10780 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 280, Los Angeles, CA, 90025, USA, Email jcorren@ucla.eduPurpose: Dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody, blocks the shared receptor component for interleukins-4/-13, key and central drivers of type 2 (T2) inflammation in multiple diseases. In phase 3 QUEST (NCT02414854), dupilumab vs placebo significantly reduced asthma exacerbation rates (AER) and improved pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) in patients with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma, with greater effects in patients with elevated T2 biomarkers (≥ 150 eosinophils/μL or fractional exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO] ≥ 25 parts per billion). Overall safety was consistent with the known dupilumab safety profile. This post hoc analysis assessed dupilumab efficacy in QUEST patients with T2 asthma with evidence of an allergic phenotype (baseline serum IgE ≥ 30 IU/mL and aeroallergen-specific IgE ≥ 0.35 IU/mL) by number of aeroallergen sensitizations: 1, 2, 3, or ≥ 4. Non-sensitized patients (serum total IgE < 30 IU/mL without evidence of allergic phenotype) were also assessed.Patients and Methods: Endpoints were annualized AER, change from baseline in pre-bronchodilator FEV1 and asthma control (5-item Asthma Control Questionnaire [ACQ-5]), and FeNO and serum total IgE levels over the 52-week treatment period.Results: In all subgroups by number of allergens sensitized, dupilumab vs placebo reduced AER by 35– 67% and improved both pre-bronchodilator FEV1 at Week 12 (least squares mean differences: 0.10– 0.26 L across subgroups) and ACQ-5 score at Week 52 (– 0.26 to – 0.43). Dupilumab significantly reduced FeNO and total IgE levels at Week 52 compared with placebo. Similar results were observed in non-sensitized patients.Conclusion: Dupilumab improved clinical outcomes and reduced biomarker levels in patients with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe T2 asthma irrespective of allergen sensitization status or number.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02414854.Keywords: dupilumab, allergic asthma, type 2 asthma, perennial aeroallergen

Mona Bafadhel,1 Klaus F Rabe,2 Fernando J Martinez,3 Dave Singh,4 Patrick Darken,5 Martin Jenkins,6 Magnus Aurivillius,7 Mehul Patel,6 Paul Dorinsky8 1Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK; 2LungenClinic Grosshansdorf and Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Airway Research Center North, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 3Joan and Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; 4Medicines Evaluation Unit, University of Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Hospitals Trust, Manchester, UK; 5AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA; 6AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK; 7AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden; 8Formerly of AstraZeneca, Durham, NC, USACorrespondence: Mona Bafadhel, Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, 5th floor, Tower Wing, Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK, Tel +44 0207 188 8717, Email mona.bafadhel@kcl.ac.ukPurpose: Blood eosinophil (EOS) count can guide treatment decisions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the 52-week ETHOS study (NCT02465567), budesonide/glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate dihydrate (BGF) triple therapy at two inhaled corticosteroid doses reduced moderate/severe exacerbation rates and improved lung function, symptoms, and disease-related quality of life (QoL) versus dual therapy with glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate dihydrate (GFF) or budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate (BFF) in patients with moderate-to-very severe COPD. This subgroup analysis evaluated treatment benefits in ETHOS by baseline EOS count.Methods: Patients (40− 80 years) with a COPD history were randomly assigned 1:1:1:1 to receive BGF 320/14.4/10 μg, BGF 160/14.4/10 μg, GFF 14.4/10 μg, or BFF 320/10 μg via a metered-dose inhaler. This post-hoc analysis assessed endpoints by baseline EOS count using Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease thresholds (< 100, ≥ 100, ≥ 100−< 300, ≥ 300 cells/mm3), and investigated continuous relationships between treatment effects and EOS count on exacerbations, symptoms, disease-related QoL, lung function, and safety.Results: In the modified intention-to-treat population (n=8509), 82.6% had EOS counts ≥ 100 cells/mm3. BGF 320 reduced moderate/severe exacerbation rates versus GFF in the ≥ 100, ≥ 100−< 300, and ≥ 300 subgroups; treatment differences increased with EOS count. BGF 320 improved rescue medication use and lung-function outcomes across all subgroups, and St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire total score, Transition Dyspnea Index focal score, and Exacerbations of Chronic Pulmonary Disease Tool total score in all except the < 100 subgroup versus GFF. Benefits of BGF 320 versus BFF were generally consistent across subgroups. Safety data were comparable across subgroups.Conclusion: Benefits of BGF versus GFF were observed across EOS counts, particularly at ≥ 100 cells/mm³; versus BFF, benefits were largely independent of EOS. These findings confirm that benefits of ICS-containing triple therapy are not restricted to EOS counts ≥ 300 cells/mm³, supporting recommendations to consider triple therapy in patients with an exacerbation history and EOS counts ≥ 100 cells/mm³.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: eosinophils, inhaled corticosteroids, triple therapy

Peter Alter,1 Kathrin Kahnert,2 Franziska C Trudzinski,3 Robert Bals,4 Henrik Watz,5 Tim Speicher,1 Sandra Söhler,1 Stefan Andreas,6 Tobias Welte,7 Klaus F Rabe,8 Emiel FM Wouters,9 Antonia Sassmann-Schweda,10 Hubert Wirtz,11 Joachim H Ficker,12,13 Claus F Vogelmeier,1 Rudolf A Jörres14 1Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Philipps University of Marburg (UMR), Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany; 2Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany; 3Department of Pneumology and Critical Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC-H), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany; 4Department of Internal Medicine V - Pulmonology, Allergology, Intensive Care Medicine, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany; 5Pulmonary Research Institute at LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 6LungClinic Immenhausen and Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Göttingen, Germany; 7Clinic for Pneumology, Hannover Medical School, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany; 8LungenClinic Grosshansdorf and Department of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 9Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Health, Vienna, Austria; 10Center for Clinical Studies, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany; 11Department of Internal Medicine I, Pneumology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; 12Department of Respiratory Medicine, Allergology and Sleep Medicine, Klinikum Nuremberg, Nürnberg, Germany; 13Paracelsus Medical University Nuremberg, Nürnberg, Germany; 14Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, GermanyCorrespondence: Peter Alter, Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Philipps University of Marburg (UMR), Baldingerstrasse 1, Marburg, Germany, Email Alter@uni-marburg.deBackground: Multimorbidity plays an important role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but is also a feature of ageing. We estimated to what extent increases in the prevalence of multimorbidity over time are attributable to COPD progression compared to increasing patient age.Methods: Patients with COPD from the long-term COSYCONET (COPD and Systemic Consequences - Comorbidities Network) cohort with four follow-up visits were included in this analysis. At each visit, symptoms, exacerbation history, quality of life and lung function were assessed, along with the comorbidities heart failure (HF), coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral arterial disease (PAD), hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia and osteoporosis. Using longitudinal logistic regression analysis, we determined what proportion of the increase in the prevalence of comorbidities could be attributed to patients’ age or to the progression of COPD over visits.Results: Of 2030 patients at baseline, 878 completed four follow-up visits (up to 4.5 years). CAD prevalence increased over time, with similar effects attributable to the 4.5-year follow-up, used as indicator of COPD progression, and to a 5-year increase in patients’ age. The prevalence of HF, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, osteoporosis and sleep apnea showed stronger contributions of COPD progression than of age; in contrast, age dominated for hypertension and PAD. There were different relationships to patients’ characteristics including BMI and sex. The results were not critically dependent on the duration of COPD prior to enrolment, or the inclusion of patients with all four follow-up visits vs those attending only at least one of them.Conclusion: Analyzing the increasing prevalence of multimorbidity in COPD over time, we separated age-independent contributions, probably reflecting intrinsic COPD-related disease progression, from age-dependent contributions. This distinction might be useful for the individual assessment of disease progression in COPD.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, comorbidities, multimorbidity, prognosis, disease progression

Mustafa Abdo,1 Frauke Pedersen,1,2 Frederik Trinkmann,3,4 Felix JF Herth,3 Klaus F Rabe,1 Anne-Marie Kirsten,2 Henrik Watz2 1LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 2Pulmonary Research Institute at LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 3Pneumology and Critical Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik at University Hospital Heidelberg, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), Member of German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany; 4Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at the Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health Baden-Württemberg (CPD-BW), University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, GermanyCorrespondence: Mustafa Abdo, LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Wöhrendamm 80, Grosshansdorf, 22927, Germany, Email m.abdo@lungenclinic.de

Mustafa Abdo,1 Frederik Trinkmann,2,3 Anne-Marie Kirsten,4 Heike Biller,1 Frauke Pedersen,1,4 Benjamin Waschki,1 Erika Von Mutius,5 Matthias Kopp,6,7 Gesine Hansen,8 Klaus F Rabe,1 Thomas Bahmer,1,9,&ast; Henrik Watz4,&ast; On behalf of the ALLIANCE study group1LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 2Department of Pneumology and Critical Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany; 3Department of Biomedical Informatics, Heinrich-Lanz-Center, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; 4Pulmonary Research Institute at the LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 5Dr von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), and Institute of Asthma and Allergy Prevention, Helmholtz Centre, Both Munich, Germany; 6Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Inselspital, University Children’s Hospital of Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; 7Division of Pediatric Pneumology & Allergology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein-Campus Luebeck, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Luebeck, Germany; 8Department of Paediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany; 9University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein-Campus Kiel, department for Internal Medicine I, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Kiel, Germany&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Mustafa AbdoLungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Wöhrendamm 80, Grosshansdorf, 22927, GermanyTel +49 4102 601 2412Email m.abdo@lungenclinic.deRationale: Small airway dysfunction (SAD) is a frequent feature of asthma that has been linked to disease severity and poor symptom control. However, little is known about the role of SAD in nocturnal asthma.Objective: To study the association between the severity of SAD and frequency of nocturnal symptoms compared to conventional lung function testing.Methods: We assessed the frequency of self-reported nocturnal symptoms through the asthma control test. We studied the impact of nocturnal asthma using the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20). We assessed the lung function using spirometry, body plethysmography, impulse oscillometry, single and multiple inert gas washout and measured markers of T2-inflammation (blood and sputum eosinophils; fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNo)). We stratified the patients according to the presence and frequency of nocturnal asthma.Results: A total of 166 asthma patients were enrolled in the analysis. Eighty-seven patients (52%) reported to have nocturnal symptoms at least once in the last four weeks. The odds ratio of nocturnal asthma correlated with the severity of all non-spirometric measures of SAD, yet neither with airflow obstruction (FEV1 and FEV/FVC) nor with large airway resistance (R20). Patients with frequent nocturnal asthma (n = 29) had a numerical increase of T2 markers and more severe SAD, as indicated by all non-spirometric measures of SAD (all p-values < 0.05), worse overall asthma control, increased fatigue and reduced quality of life (all p-values < 0.01) compared to patients with infrequent nocturnal asthma (n = 58) or patients without nocturnal asthma (n = 79). We identified 63 patients without airflow obstruction, nearly 43% of them (n = 27) had nocturnal asthma. In this subgroup, only markers of air trapping and ventilation heterogeneity were significantly elevated and correlated with the frequency of nocturnal symptoms: LCI (Spearman’s coefficient = − 0.42, p < 0.001), RV% (− 0.32, p = 0.02).Conclusion: SAD is closely associated to asthma with nocturnal symptoms. Spirometry might underestimate the broad spectrum of distal lung function impairments in this population of patients.Keywords: small airway dysfunction, nocturnal asthma, ventilation heterogeneity, air trapping

Frauke Pedersen,1,2 Frederik Trinkmann,3 Mustafa Abdo,2 Anne-Marie Kirsten,1 Klaus F Rabe,2 Henrik Watz,1 Simonetta Baraldo,4 Marina Saetta,4 Jens M Hohlfeld,5,6 Olaf Holz5 1Pulmonary Research Institute at LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 2LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 3Pneumology and Critical Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik at University Hospital Heidelberg, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany; 4Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Respiratory Diseases Clinic, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; 5Fraunhofer ITEM, Clinical Airway Research - Biomedical Research in End-Stage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany; 6Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Biomedical Research in End-Stage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, GermanyCorrespondence: Frauke PedersenPulmonary Research Institute at LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Wöhrendamm 80, Grosshansdorf, D-22927, GermanyTel +49-4102-6016845Fax +49-4102-8881114Email f.pedersen@pulmoresearch.dePurpose: We recently introduced a sputum cell quality score to rate how cell morphology, cellular debris and squamous cell contamination influence inflammatory cell identification during microscopic evaluation. However, sputum cell quality is generally not considered for the interpretation of sputum fluid phase biomarkers. Therefore, we compared the soluble protein concentrations between sputum samples with different cell quality. The impact of cell quality was compared to other factors potentially affecting soluble biomarker concentrations.Methods: A comprehensive sputum dataset from 154 clinically stable COPD patients was used to analyse the differences and the variability of sputum supernatant concentrations for 23 proteins between low, medium, and high sputum cell quality samples. A model was developed and tested to compare the impact of different factors on sputum supernatant protein levels.Results: Mean percentages of sputum macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and lymphocytes showed no significant differences between low, medium and high cell quality levels. The mean percentage of squamous cells were lower, while total cell count/mL sputum and cell viability were significantly higher in sputum samples with higher cell quality. The concentrations of Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8 and Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 2 were significantly increased in sputum samples of higher cell quality. The variability of most protein concentrations declined with increasing cell quality levels. Sixteen proteins showed significantly negative correlations with the percentage of squamous cells. For 14 proteins we observed a positive correlation with cell number/mL sputum. Multiple regression analysis shows that generally less than 30% of the protein variability can be explained by the included factors.Conclusion: Sputum cell quality has a significant impact on some soluble biomarker concentrations in sputum supernatant. Sputum samples with low sputum cell quality show a higher variability of fluid phase proteins in comparison to medium and high sputum cell quality levels.Keywords: sputum cell quality score, soluble biomarkers, sputum supernatant

Mustafa Abdo,1 Benjamin Waschki,2 Anne-Marie Kirsten,3 Frederik Trinkmann,4,5 Heike Biller,1 Christian Herzmann,6 Erika von Mutius,7 Matthias Kopp,8,9 Gesine Hansen,10 Klaus F Rabe,1 Thomas Bahmer,1,11,* Henrik Watz3,* On behalf of the ALLIANCE study group1LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 2Department of Cardiology and Pneumology at Hospital Itzehoe, Itzehoe, Germany; 3Pulmonary Research Institute at the LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 4Department of Pneumology and Critical Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany; 5Department of Biomedical Informatics, Heinrich-Lanz-Center, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; 6Research Center Borstel, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Borstel, Germany; 7Dr von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany; 8Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Inselspital, University Children’s Hospital of Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; 9Division of Pediatric Pneumology & Allergology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein-Campus Luebeck, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Luebeck, Germany; 10Department of Paediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany; 11University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein-Campus Kiel, Department for Internal Medicine I, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Kiel, Germany*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Mustafa AbdoLungenClinic Grosshansdorf GmbH, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Wöhrendamm 80, Großhansdorf, 22927, GermanyTel +49 4102 601 2412Email m.abdo@lungenclinic.deRationale: Asthma, obesity and physical activity (PA) are interrelated. However, longitudinal data with objective PA measures and direct assessment of body composition are still lacking.Objective: To study the impact of symptom control on PA and body composition.Methods: In a longitudinal cohort study of the German Center for Lung Research, we assessed the body composition of 233 asthma patients and 84 healthy controls using bioelectrical impedance analysis. PA (ie average daily steps and time of at least moderate activity, steps/min) was measured by accelerometry for one week. Asthma control was assessed by ACT score, ACQ-5 score and history of severe exacerbations. After two years of follow-up, we studied changes in physical activity and body composition in relation to asthma control.Results: Patients with uncontrolled asthma had increased fat mass and decreased muscle mass compared to patients with controlled asthma or healthy controls. Both fat mass and muscle mass correlated better with asthma control than the body mass index (BMI). In multivariate regressions adjusted for age and sex, asthma control and physical activity were independent predictors of body composition (R2 = 0.61, p

Fernando J Martinez,1 Klaus F Rabe,2 Brian J Lipworth,3 Samir Arora,4 Martin Jenkins,5 Ubaldo J Martin,6 Colin Reisner6,7 1Joan and Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; 2Department of Pneumonology, LungenClinic Grosshansdorf and Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Airway Research Center North, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 3Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Scottish Centre for Respiratory Research, Ninewells Hospital, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK; 4Aventiv Research Inc., Columbus, OH, USA; 5Global Medicines Development, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK; 6Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA; 7R&D Biopharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Morristown, NJ, USACorrespondence: Fernando J MartinezJoan and Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 E 68th Street, Room M-522, Box 130, New York, NY 10065, USATel +1646 962 2748Email fjm2003@med.cornell.eduBackground: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommends a short-acting bronchodilator or single long-acting bronchodilator as an initial pharmacological treatment for GOLD category A patients with COPD. We pooled data from the PINNACLE-1, -2, and -4 studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the dual bronchodilator fixed-dose combination glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate metered dose inhaler (GFF MDI), formulated using co-suspension delivery technology, in GOLD category A patients with moderate-to-very severe COPD.Materials and Methods: PINNACLE-1, -2, and -4 were Phase III, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter studies (NCT01854645, NCT01854658, and NCT02343458). Patients received 24 weeks’ treatment with GFF MDI 18/9.6 μg, glycopyrrolate (GP) MDI 18 μg, formoterol fumarate (FF) MDI 9.6 μg, or placebo MDI twice daily. GOLD category A patients were identified based on a COPD Assessment Test score of 1), peak change from baseline in FEV1 within 2 hrs post-dose, and adverse events (AEs).Results: The pooled intent-to-treat population comprised 729 GOLD category A patients. GFF MDI significantly improved morning pre-dose trough FEV1 at Week 24 versus GP MDI, FF MDI, and placebo MDI (least squares mean [LSM] differences 54 mL, 62 mL, and 188 mL, respectively; all p≤0.0053), and peak FEV1 at Week 24 versus GP MDI, FF MDI, and placebo MDI (LSM differences 124 mL, 104 mL, and 307 mL, respectively; all p

Masakazu Ichinose,1 Yasushi Fukushima,2 Yoshikazu Inoue,3 Osamu Hataji,4 Gary T Ferguson,5 Klaus F Rabe,6 Nobuya Hayashi,7 Hiroshi Okada,7 Mami Takikawa,7 Eric Bourne,8 Shaila Ballal,9 Kiernan DeAngelis,10 Magnus Aurivillius,11 Paul Dorinsky,8 Colin Reisner9 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuwa Clinic, Tokyo, Japan; 3Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization, Kinki-Chuo Chest Medical Center, Osaka, Japan; 4Respiratory Center, Matsusaka Municipal Hospital, Matsusaka, Japan; 5Pulmonary Research Institute of Southeast Michigan, Farmington Hills, MI, USA; 6LungenClinic Grosshansdorf and Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Airway Research Center North, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 7AstraZeneca K.K., Osaka, Japan; 8AstraZeneca, Durham, NC, USA; 9AstraZeneca, Morristown, NJ, USA; 10Formerly of AstraZeneca, Durham, NC, USA; 11AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, SwedenCorrespondence: Masakazu IchinoseDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, JapanTel +81-22-717-8534Email ichinose@rm.med.tohoku.ac.jpBackground: KRONOS, a Phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study (NCT02497001) conducted in Canada, China, Japan, and the USA, assessed the efficacy and safety of budesonide/glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate metered dose inhaler (BGF MDI), a triple fixed-dose combination therapy, relative to dual therapies in patients with moderate-to-very severe COPD. Here we present findings from the Japanese subgroup of KRONOS.Methods: Patients received BGF MDI 320/18/9.6μg, glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate (GFF) MDI 18/9.6μg, budesonide/formoterol fumarate (BFF) MDI 320/9.6μg, or budesonide/formoterol fumarate dry powder inhaler (BUD/FORM DPI) 400/12μg twice-daily for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in morning pre-dose trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) over Weeks 12–24. Symptoms, quality of life, exacerbations, and safety were also assessed.Results: In total, 416 Japanese patients (21.9% of the global KRONOS population) were randomized and treated with BGF MDI (n=139), GFF MDI (n=138), BFF MDI (n=70), or BUD/FORM DPI (n=69). Nominally significant improvements in the change from baseline in morning pre-dose trough FEV1 over Weeks 12–24 were observed for BGF MDI vs GFF MDI (least squares mean [LSM] difference 37 mL, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3, 72; P=0.0337) and BFF MDI (67 mL; 95% CI 25, 109; P=0.0020). Treatment with BGF MDI led to a nominally significant reduction in the rate of moderate/severe exacerbations vs GFF MDI (rate ratio 0.40, 95% CI 0.19, 0.83; P=0.0142). Compared with dual therapies, numerical improvements were observed with BGF MDI for Transition Dyspnea Index focal score and the change from baseline in Evaluating Respiratory Symptoms in COPD total score (P≤0.3899). All treatments were generally well tolerated.Conclusion: BGF MDI nominally significantly improved lung function and numerically improved symptoms vs GFF MDI and BFF MDI. BGF MDI nominally significantly reduced exacerbations vs GFF MDI in Japanese patients with COPD. Efficacy and safety findings were generally comparable to those in the global KRONOS population.Keywords: co-suspension delivery technology, ICS/LAMA/LABA, inhaled corticosteroid, long-acting muscarinic antagonist, long-acting β2-agonist, Japan

Masakazu Ichinose,1 Yasushi Fukushima,2 Yoshikazu Inoue,3 Osamu Hataji,4 Gary T Ferguson,5 Klaus F Rabe,6 Nobuya Hayashi,7 Hiroshi Okada,7 Mami Takikawa,7 Eric Bourne,8 Shaila Ballal,9 Kiernan DeAngelis,10 Magnus Aurivillius,11 Colin Reisner,9 Paul Dorinsky8 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuwa Clinic, Tokyo, Japan; 3Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization, Kinki-Chuo Chest Medical Center, Osaka, Japan; 4Respiratory Center, Matsusaka Municipal Hospital, Matsusaka, Japan; 5Pulmonary Research Institute of Southeast Michigan, Farmington Hills, MI, USA; 6LungenClinic Grosshansdorf and Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Airway Research Center North, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Großhansdorf, Germany; 7AstraZeneca K.K., Osaka, Japan; 8AstraZeneca, Durham, NC, USA; 9AstraZeneca, Morristown, NJ, USA; 10Formerly of AstraZeneca, Durham, NC, USA; 11AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, SwedenCorrespondence: Masakazu IchinoseDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, JapanTel +81-22-717-8534Email ichinose@rm.med.tohoku.ac.jpBackground: Budesonide/glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate metered dose inhaler (BGF MDI) is a triple fixed-dose combination for COPD. The long-term safety of triple therapy for COPD has not been investigated in Japanese patients. In this 28-week extension study (NCT03262012), we investigated the long-term safety and tolerability of BGF MDI in Japanese patients with moderate-to-very severe COPD who completed the 24-week Phase III randomized, double-blind, multicenter KRONOS study (NCT02497001).Materials and methods: Patients randomized to BGF MDI 320/18/9.6 μg, glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate (GFF) MDI 18/9.6 μg, budesonide/formoterol fumarate (BFF) MDI 320/9.6 μg, or budesonide/formoterol fumarate dry powder inhaler (BUD/FORM DPI) 400/12 μg twice-daily in KRONOS continued treatment for up to 28 additional weeks. Safety was evaluated over 52 weeks via adverse event (AE) monitoring, electrocardiograms, clinical laboratory testing, and vital sign measurements.Results: The safety population included 416 patients who received BGF MDI (n=139), GFF MDI (n=138), BFF MDI (n=70), or BUD/FORM DPI (n=69). Treatment-emergent AE (TEAE) rates were similar across treatment groups (range: 82.6–82.9%). The most frequent TEAEs overall were nasopharyngitis (32.2%) and bronchitis (9.9%). The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events was low across groups (range: 0.0–2.9%). Over 52 weeks, the incidence of confirmed pneumonia was 9.4% (BGF MDI), 3.6% (GFF MDI), 5.7% (BFF MDI), and 2.9% (BUD/FORM DPI); in the 28-week extension period, rates were comparable across groups (range: 2.9–5.7%). Six deaths were reported (0.7–2.2% per group); none were considered treatment-related. No clinically meaningful trends were observed in electrocardiograms, laboratory parameters, or vital signs over time in any of the treatment groups.Conclusion: All treatments were well tolerated over 52 weeks, and the safety profile of BGF MDI was generally comparable to dual long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA)/long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/LABA therapies. These findings support the long-term tolerability of BGF MDI in Japanese patients with COPD.Keywords: co-suspension delivery technology, ICS/LAMA/LABA, inhaled corticosteroid, long-acting muscarinic antagonist, long-acting β2-agonist, Japan

Frauke Pedersen,1,2 Ulrich M Zissler,3 Henrik Watz,2 Klaus F Rabe,1 Jens M Hohlfeld,4,5 Olaf Holz41LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 2Pulmonary Research Institute at LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 3Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany; 4Fraunhofer ITEM, Clinical Airway Research – Biomedical Research in End-stage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany; 5Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Biomedical Research in End-stage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Hannover, GermanyBackgroundInduced sputum is a method to assess airway inflammation in clinical trials for asthma and COPD.1–3 Sputum is a heterogeneous, viscous material containing inflammatory cell plugs, cellular debris, mucus, and saliva with squamous cells.The quality of sputum cell preparations for differential cell count analysis depends on multiple factors and can be highly variable.4,5 Percentage of squamous cell contamination (SQ%) is often used to assess the quality of sputum cell preparations.6Here, we evaluated a comprehensive quality score,7 which also includes an assessment of the inflammatory cell morphology and amount of cellular debris.

Peter Alter,1 Klaus F Rabe,2,3 Holger Schulz,4 Claus F Vogelmeier,1 Rudolf A Jörres5 1Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Philipps University of Marburg, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany; 2LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 3Christian-Albrechts University, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Kiel, Germany; 4Helmholtz-Zentrum München, Institute of Epidemiology, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany; 5Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany Introduction: For interpretation of body plethysmographic static hyperinflation, reference values are of crucial importance. Earliest reference values have been published by the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and are based on sex, body height and age as predictors. As obesity can lead to a reduction of functional residual capacity (FRC) in lung-healthy subjects, more recent approaches included body weight or body surface area. This raises the question whether these models are appropriate in patients with COPD-induced hyperinflation. Method: Several FRC prediction models and their relation to body weight were analyzed in 1513 patients with stable COPD (mean [SD] age: 64.5 [8.2] years; GOLD grades 1–4: 219/722/484/88), a subset of the multicenter COPD and Systemic Consequences – Comorbidities Network cohort. Results: Absolute values of FRC were inversely related to body mass index (p

Lena Heinbockel,1,2 Sebastian Marwitz,1,2 Andra B Schromm,3 Henrik Watz,2,4 Christian Kugler,2,5 Ole Ammerpohl,2,6 Karoline Schnepf,7 Klaus F Rabe,2,5 Daniel Droemann,2,7 Torsten Goldmann1,2 1Pathology of the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Luebeck and Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany; 2Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Großhansdorf, Germany; 3Immunobiophysics, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany; 4Pulmonary Research Institute at LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Grosshansdorf, Germany; 5LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Grosshansdorf, Germany; 6Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany; 7Medical Clinic III, Pulmonology/Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany Introduction: As part of a study aimed at illuminating at least some of the complex molecular events taking place in COPD, we screened tissues by means of transcriptome analyses. Materials and methods: Tissues were subjected to transcriptome analysis. Candidate genes were identified and validated by immunohistochemistry. Primary human lung cells were subjected to stimulation with cigarette smoke extract for further validation by real time PCR. Results: Six candidate genes were selected for further investigations: Aquaporin 3 (AQP3), extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1), four and a half LIM domain 1 (FHL1), milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFGE8, lactadherin), phosphodiesterase 4D-interacting protein (PDE4DIP), and creatine transporter SLC6A8. All six proteins were allocated to distinct cell types by immunohistochemistry. Upon stimulation with cigarette smoke extract, human type II pneumocytes showed a dose-dependent down-regulation of MFGE8, while ECM1 and FHL1 also tended to be down-regulated. Although present, none of the candidates was regulated by cigarette smoke extract in primary human macrophages. Discussion: MFGE8 turned out to be an interesting new candidate gene in COPD deserving further studies. Keywords: COPD, transcriptome, MFGE8, CSE, cigarette smoke extract, ETS2

Henrik Watz,1 Nitin Bagul,2 Klaus F Rabe,3,4 Stephen Rennard,5,6 Vijay KT Alagappan,7 Jonas Román,8 Axel Facius,9 Peter MA Calverley10 1Pulmonary Research Institute at LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North, German Center for Lung Research, Grosshansdorf, Germany; 2DNA Medical Ltd, Langley, UK; 3Department of Pulmonary Medicine, LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North, German Center for Lung Research, Grosshansdorf, 4Department of Medicine, Christian Albrecht University Kiel, Kiel, Germany; 5Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; 6AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK; 7AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA; 8AstraZeneca R&D, Gothenburg, Sweden; 9thinkQ2 AG, Baar, Switzerland; 10Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK Background: The oral selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor roflumilast (ROF) reduces exacerbations in patients with severe COPD. Adverse events (AEs) can cause early ROF discontinuation. Alternative dosing strategies may help patients continue their therapy. Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind trial, 1,321 patients with severe COPD were randomized 1:1:1 to 4 weeks’ treatment with ROF 250 µg once daily (OD), 500 µg every other day (EOD), or 500 µg OD, each followed by ROF 500 µg OD for 8 weeks, plus standard therapy. The primary end point was the percentage of patients prematurely discontinuing study treatment. Results: Patients in the 250 µg OD/500 µg OD group had significantly fewer treatment discontinuations (odds ratio [OR] 0.66 [95% CI 0.47–0.93], p=0.017) and lower rates of AEs of interest such as diarrhea, nausea, headache, decreased appetite, insomnia and abdominal pain (OR 0.63 [95% CI 0.47–0.83], p=0.001) compared with those in the 500 µg OD group. Although rates of discontinuation and AEs of interest were numerically lower with ROF 500 µg EOD/500 µg OD, the difference was not significant (OR 0.76, p=0.114, and OR 0.78, p=0.091, respectively) compared with ROF 500 µg OD. Conclusion: A dose of ROF 250 µg OD for 4 weeks before escalation to the approved maintenance dose of 500 µg OD resulted in reduced treatment discontinuation and improved tolerability. Keywords: roflumilast, COPD, discontinuation, adverse event

Benjamin Waschki,1–3 Henrik Watz,2,3 Olaf Holz,4,5 Helgo Magnussen,2,3 Beata Olejnicka,6 Tobias Welte,5,7 Klaus F Rabe,1,3 Sabina Janciauskiene5,7 1Pneumology, LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Grosshansdorf, Germany; 2Pulmonary Research Institute at LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Grosshansdorf, Germany; 3Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany; 4Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany; 5Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany; 6Department of Medicine, Trelleborg Hospital, Trelleborg, Sweden; 7Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany Introduction: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a major inhibitor of fibrinolysis, is associated with thrombosis, obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and premature aging, which all are coexisting conditions of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The role of PAI-1 in COPD with respect to metabolic and cardiovascular functions is unclear. Methods: In this study, which was nested within a prospective cohort study, the serum levels of PAI-1 were cross-sectionally measured in 74 stable COPD patients (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [GOLD] Stages I–IV) and 18 controls without lung disease. In addition, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, waist circumference, blood pressure, smoking status, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), adiponectin, ankle–brachial index, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and history of comorbidities were also determined. Results: The serum levels of PAI-1 were significantly higher in COPD patients than in controls, independent of a broad spectrum of possible confounders including metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunction. A multivariate regression analysis revealed triglyceride and hs-CRP levels to be the best predictors of PAI-1 within COPD. GOLD Stages II and III remained independently associated with higher PAI-1 levels in a final regression analysis. Conclusion: The data from the present study showed that the serum levels of PAI-1 are higher in patients with COPD and that moderate-to-severe airflow limitation, hypertriglyceridemia, and systemic inflammation are independent predictors of an elevated PAI-1 level. PAI-1 may be a potential biomarker candidate for COPD-specific and extra-pulmonary manifestations. Keywords: plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, hypertriglyceridemia, ankle-brachial index, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide

Stephen I Rennard,1,2 Fernando J Martinez,3,4 Klaus F Rabe,5–7 Sanjay Sethi,8 Emilio Pizzichini,9 Andrew McIvor,10 Shahid Siddiqui,11 Antonio Anzueto,12 Haiyuan Zhu13 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; 2AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK; 3Joan and Sanford I Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell University, New York, NY, 4Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; 5LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Großhansdorf, 6Department of Medicine, University Kiel, Kiel, 7Airway Research Center North, German Center for Lung Research, Großhansdorf, Germany; 8Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA; 9Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina, Brazil; 10Firestone Institute of Respiratory Health, St Joseph’s Healthcare, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; 11AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 12South Texas Veterans Health Care System at San Antonio, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, 13Allergan plc, Jersey City, NJ, USA Background: Roflumilast, a once-daily, selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, reduces the risk of COPD exacerbations in patients with severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis and a history of exacerbations. The RE2SPOND study is examining whether roflumilast, when added to an inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β2-agonist (ICS/LABA) fixed-dose combination (FDC), further reduces exacerbations. The methodology is described herein. Methods: In this Phase IV, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial, participants were randomized 1:1 (stratified by long-acting muscarinic antagonist use) to receive roflumilast or placebo, plus ICS/LABA FDC, for 52 weeks. Eligible participants had severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis, had two or more moderate–severe exacerbations within 12 months, and were receiving ICS/LABA FDC for ≥3 months. The primary efficacy measure is the rate of moderate or severe COPD exacerbations per participant per year. The secondary efficacy outcomes include mean change in prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) over 52 weeks, rate of severe exacerbations, and rate of moderate, severe, or antibiotic-treated exacerbations. Additional assessments include spirometry, rescue medication use, the COPD assessment test, daily symptoms using the EXACT-Respiratory symptoms (E-RS) questionnaire, all-cause and COPD-related hospitalizations, and safety and pharmacokinetic measures. Results: Across 17 countries, 2,354 participants were randomized from September 2011 to October 2014. Enrollment goal was met in October 2014, and study completion occurred in June 2016. Conclusion: This study will further characterize the effects of roflumilast added to ICS/LABA on exacerbation rates, lung function, and health of severe–very severe COPD participants at risk of further exacerbations. The results will determine the clinical benefits of roflumilast combined with standard-of-care inhaled COPD treatment. Keywords: exacerbation, RE2SPOND, phosphodiesterase-4, ICS/LABA, methodology, study design

Ian D Pavord,1 Paul W Jones,2 Pierre-Régis Burgel,3 Klaus F Rabe4,5 1Respiratory Medicine Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; 2Division of Clinical Science, St George’s, University of London, London, UK; 3Department of Respiratory Medicine, Cochin Hospital, University Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; 4Department of Medicine, Christian Albrecht University, Kiel, Germany; 5LungenClinic, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany Abstract: Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are defined as sustained worsening of a patient’s condition beyond normal day-to-day variations that is acute in onset, and that may also require a change in medication and/or hospitalization. Exacerbations have a significant and prolonged impact on health status and outcomes, and negative effects on pulmonary function. A significant proportion of exacerbations are unreported and therefore left untreated, leading to a poorer prognosis than those treated. COPD exacerbations are heterogeneous, and various phenotypes have been proposed which differ in biologic basis, prognosis, and response to therapy. Identification of biomarkers could enable phenotype-driven approaches for the management and prevention of exacerbations. For example, several biomarkers of inflammation can help to identify exacerbations most likely to respond to oral corticosteroids and antibiotics, and patients with a frequent exacerbator phenotype, for whom preventative treatment is appropriate. Reducing the frequency of exacerbations would have a beneficial impact on patient outcomes and prognosis. Preventative strategies include modification of risk factors, treatment of comorbid conditions, the use of bronchodilator therapy with long-acting β2-agonists or long-acting muscarinic antagonists, and inhaled corticosteroids. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying COPD exacerbations will help to optimize use of the currently available and new interventions for preventing and treating exacerbations. Keywords: COPD, exacerbation, phenotype, biomarker, bronchodilator

Jadwiga A Wedzicha,1 Peter MA Calverley,2 Klaus F Rabe3,41Airways Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, 2Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; 3Department of Internal Medicine, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, 4Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Medical Director, LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Centre North, German Centre for Lung Research, Grosshansdorf, Germany Abstract: COPD is a progressive condition involving chronic inflammation and parenchymal destruction with resulting airflow limitation. COPD is associated with worsening airflow limitation over time and increased frequency of COPD exacerbations, leading to increased mortality and morbidity. The effects of COPD extend beyond the lungs, as multiple comorbidities may occur with COPD, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, depression, and pneumonia. COPD exacerbations are associated with a rapid worsening of baseline symptoms that requires prompt management and may necessitate hospitalization in the case of a severe episode. Patients with COPD exacerbations require urgent management of symptoms to prevent further worsening, and preventative steps may be taken to help reduce the number and frequency of future exacerbations. Roflumilast is a potent and selective inhibitor of the enzyme phosphodiesterase-4 that targets the systemic inflammation associated with COPD. Roflumilast has a variety of anti-inflammatory effects including decreasing inflammatory mediators and the expression of cell surface markers and inhibition of apoptosis. Several clinical trials evaluating roflumilast in the treatment of COPD have demonstrated significant improvements from baseline versus placebo in lung function, including increases in mean pre- and postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity. Data suggest that roflumilast reduces moderate to severe exacerbations with the benefit most well established in patients with severe disease. Given this evidence, roflumilast, as part of a combination regimen with long-acting bronchodilators, appears to be a reasonable treatment option for patients with severe to very severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis and a history of exacerbations. Keywords: COPD, exacerbations, phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors, roflumilast, chronic bronchitis

Marc Miravitlles,1 David Price,2 Klaus F Rabe,3,7 Hendrik Schmidt,4 Norbert Metzdorf,5 Bartolome Celli6 1Pneumology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Ciber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain; 2Academic Primary Care, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK; 3Department of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU), Großhansdorf, Germany; 4Global Biometrics and Clinical Applications, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH and Co KG, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany; 5TA Respiratory Diseases, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH and Co KG, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany; 6Pulmonary Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; 7LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Großhansdorf, Germany Background: There is an ongoing debate on whether patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) seen in real-life clinical settings are represented in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of COPD. It is thought that the stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria of RCTs may prevent the participation of patients with specific characteristics or risk factors.Methods: We surveyed a database of patients recruited into 35 placebo-controlled tiotropium RCTs and also conducted a systematic literature review of large-scale observational studies conducted in patients with a documented diagnosis of COPD between 1990 and 2013. Patient demographics and comorbidities with a high prevalence in patients with COPD were compared between the two patient populations at baseline. Using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA; v 14.0), patient comorbidities in the pooled tiotropium RCTs were classified according to system organ class, pharmacovigilance (PV) endpoints, and Standardised MedDRA Queries to enable comparison with the observational studies.Results: We identified 24,555 patients in the pooled tiotropium RCTs and 61,361 patients among the 13 observational studies that met our search criteria. The Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) staging of patients in the RCTs differed from that in observational studies: the proportion of patients with GOLD stages I+II disease ranged from 40.0% to 51.5% in the RCTs but 24.5% to 44.1% in the observational studies; for GOLD stage III or IV disease these ranges were 7.2%–45.8% (RCTs) and 13.7–42.1% (observational studies). The comorbidities with the highest prevalence reported in the RCTs and observational studies were: hypertension (39.4%–40.0% vs 40.1%–60.6%), other ischemic heart disease (12.3%–14.2% vs 12.5%–41.0%), diabetes (10.3%–10.9% vs 4.0%–38.9%), depression (8.5%–9.5% vs 17.0%–20.6%), and cardiac arrhythmia (7.8%–11.4% vs 11.3%–15.8%).Conclusion: The clinical profile of COPD patients treated in the tiotropium trial program appears to be largely in the range of clinical characteristics, including cardiovascular comorbidities, reported for “real-life patients.” The tiotropium RCTs tended to include patients with more severe disease than the observational studies. Keywords: patient population, baseline characteristics, epidemiology, real-life patients, GOLD staging

Xingqi Wang,1 Amy Nelson,1 Zachary M Weiler,1 Amol Patil,1 Tadashi Sato,1 Nobuhiro Kanaji,1 Masanori Nakanishi,1 Joel Michalski,1 Maha Farid,1 Hesham Basma,1 Tricia D LeVan,1 Anna Miller-Larsson,2 Elisabet Wieslander,2 Kai-Christian Muller,3 Olaf Holz,3 Helgo Magnussen,3 Klaus F Rabe,3 Xiangde Liu,1 Stephen I Rennard1 1Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; 2AstraZeneca R&D Molndal, Molndal, Sweden; 3Hospital Grosshansdorf, Center for Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery, Grosshansdorf, Germany Objective and design: Reduced expression of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) in alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells may account for reduced response of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients to glucocorticoids. HDAC2 expression and its role in mediating glucocorticoid effects on fibroblast functions, however, has not been fully studied. This study was designed to investigate whether HDAC2 mediates glucocorticoid effects on release of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) from human lung fibroblasts. Methods: Human lung fibroblasts (HFL-1 cells) were stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β plus tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the presence or absence of the glucocorticoid budesonide. Cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) were quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and MMPs (MMP-1 and MMP-3) by immunoblotting in culture medium. The role of HDAC2 was investigated using a pharmacologic inhibitor as well as a small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) targeting HDAC2. Results: We have demonstrated that budesonide concentration-dependently (10-10–10-7 M) inhibited IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1, and MMP-3 release by HFL-1 cells in response to IL-1β plus TNF-a. While an HDAC inhibitor significantly blocked the inhibitory effect of budesonide on human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and monocytes (THP-1 cells), it did not block the inhibitory effect of budesonide on release of cytokines and MMPs from HFL-1 cells. Similarly, an HDAC2-siRNA blocked budesonide inhibition of cytokine release in HBECs, but it did not block the inhibitory effect of budesonide on HFL-1 cytokine and MMP release. Furthermore, budesonide significantly blocked release of cytokines and MMPs to a similar degree in normal and COPD lung fibroblasts as well as in HFL-1 cells exposed or not exposed to cigarette smoke extract. Conclusion: These findings suggest that, in contrast to airway epithelial cells and monocytes/macrophages, HDAC2 is not required for budesonide to inhibit MMP and cytokine release by lung fibroblasts and this inhibitory pathway appears to be intact in cultured fibroblasts from COPD patients. These results also suggest that budesonide has the potential to modulate fibroblast-mediated tissue remodeling following airway inflammation in COPD, which is mediated via an HDAC2 independent pathway. Keywords: budesonide, fibroblasts, HDAC2

Peter MA Calverley,1 Fernando J Martinez,2 Leonardo M Fabbri,3 Udo-Michael Goehring,4 Klaus F Rabe5–71Clinical Science Center, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, United Kingdom; 2Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, MI, USA; 3Department of Respiratory Diseases, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; 4Nycomed (a Takeda company), Konstanz, Germany; 5University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany; 6Krankenhaus Grosshansdorf, Center for Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, Grosshansdorf, Germany; 7Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The NetherlandsBackground: Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continue to suffer exacerbations, even when treated with maximum recommended therapy (eg, inhaled combinations of long-acting β2-agonist and high dose inhaled corticosteroids, with or without a long-acting anticholinergic [long-acting muscarinic antagonist]). Roflumilast is approved to treat severe COPD in patients with chronic bronchitis – and a history of frequent exacerbations – as an add-on to bronchodilators.Purpose: The REACT (Roflumilast in the Prevention of COPD Exacerbations While Taking Appropriate Combination Treatment) study (identification number RO-2455-404-RD, clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01329029) will investigate whether roflumilast further reduces exacerbations when added to inhaled combination therapy in patients still suffering from frequent exacerbations.Patients and methods: REACT is a 1-year randomized, double-blind, multicenter, phase III/IV study of roflumilast 500 µg once daily or placebo on top of a fixed long-acting β2-agonist/inhaled corticosteroid combination. A concomitant long-acting muscarinic antagonist will be allowed at stable doses. The primary outcome is the rate of moderate or severe COPD exacerbations. Using a Poisson regression model with a two-sided significance level of 5%, a sample size of 967 patients per treatment group is needed for 90% power. COPD patients with severe to very severe airflow limitation, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and at least two exacerbations in the previous year will be recruited.Conclusion: It is hypothesized that because roflumilast (a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor) has a different mode of action to bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids, it may provide additional benefits when added to these treatments in frequent exacerbators. REACT will be important to determine the role of roflumilast in COPD management. Here, the design and rationale for this important study is described.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, roflumilast, protocol, LABA, ICS, exacerbation