Abstract: Objective To investigate interleukin 8(IL-8), interleukin 17 (IL-17) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) levels among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in high altitude area. Methods By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), among COPD patients in acute exacerbation and remission and healthy subjects, the serum IL-8, IL-17 and MMP-9 levels were determined, analyzed and compared statistically.Results The IL-8, IL-17 and MMP-9 levels in COPD patients in acute exacerbation [(9.16±2.91), (12.48±2.12) and (4.89±0.99) ng/L] and remission[(6.53±1.96), (5.76±1.98) and (3.24±0.97) ng/L] were higher than those in healthy controls, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Those in acute exacerbation were significantly higher than those in remission. Conclusions The determinations of IL-8, IL-17 and MMP-9 levels can be used as the theory indices of COPD diagnosis in high altitude area.

Key words: High altitude area, Interleukin 8, Interleukin 17, Matrix metalloproteinase 9