Systemic soluble receptor for advanced glycation endproducts is a biomarker of emphysema and associated with AGER genetic variants in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: Emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be characterized by high-resolution chest computed tomography (HRCT); however, the repeated use of HRCT is limited because of concerns regarding radiation exposure and cost.

Objectives: To evaluate biomarkers associated with emphysema and COPD-related clinical characteristics, and to assess the relationships of soluble receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (sRAGE), a candidate systemic biomarker identified in this study, with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene coding for RAGE (AGER locus) and with clinical characteristics.

Methods: Circulating levels of 111 biomarkers were analyzed for association with clinical characteristics in 410 patients with COPD enrolled in the TESRA study.