correlation analysis.

<p>The serum 25-(OH) D level correlates with the neutrophil apoptosis in the AECOPD patients(a). The serum 25-(OH) D level correlates with the phospho-p38 MAPK in the AECOPD patients(b). The correlation between the neutrophil apoptosis and phospho-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK in AECOPD patients(c). The <i>r</i> and <i>p</i> values were assessed using Pearson's correlation analysis.</p

Baseline characteristics of the study sample, presented as the mean ± s.d. for continuous variable and as the percentage for categorical variables.

<p>^#smokers/ex-smokers/nonsmokers.</p><p>*FEV₁: Forced expiratory volume in 1 s.</p><p>†PaO₂: arterial oxygen tension.</p><p>^§LTDOT: Long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy.</p><p>^##Exacerbations requiring either hospitalization or treatment with oral antibiotics or oral steroids.</p><p>**Associations were tested with t-test and Chi-square.</p><p>Baseline characteristics of the study sample, presented as the mean ± s.d. for continuous variable and as the percentage for categorical variables.</p

Effect of 1α,25VitD3 on the expression of phospho-p38 MAPK in the peripheral blood neutrophil of the AECOPD patients.

<p>Neutrophils (1×10⁶) were pretreated with SB203580 (2.5 μM×10^–5) for 0.5 h, followed by incubation with 1α,25VitD3 (6 ×10^-7M) for 24 h. Western blot was used to analyze the phospho-p38 MAPK and p38 MAPK levels. The experiments shown are representative of at least 3 experiments. *<i>p</i> < 0.05.</p

1α,25VitD3 induced peripheral blood neutrophil apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in the AECOPD patients.

<p>Neutrophils were cultured for 24 h in the absence or presence of 1×10^–7 M, 3 ×10^–7 M or 6 ×10^–7 M 1α,25VitD3 as indicated, and then assessed for apoptosis of neutrophils by flow cytometry. The data are presented as the means±sd, n = 6, *<i>P</i> < 0.05, **<i>P</i> > 0.05.</p

1α,25VitD3 increased peripheral blood neutrophil apoptosis in the AECOPD patients.

<p>Neutrophils (1 ×10⁶) were pretreated with SB203580 (2.5 μM × 10^–5) for 0.5 h, followed by incubation with 1α,25VitD3 (6 ×10^–7 M) for 24 h. Neutrophil apoptosis was analyzed with flow cytometry (a). The right lower quadrant (RLQ) contains early apoptotic neutrophils with positive Annexin V-PE binding and negative 7-AAD binding (Annexin V-PE [z], 7-AAD [–]). The vital neutrophils in the lower left quadrant (LLQ) are Annexin V-PE (-),7-AAD (-). The upper right quadrant (RUQ) contains late apoptotic and necrotic neutrophils (Annexin V-PE [z], 7-AAD [z]). The amount of neutrophil apoptosis in the RUD and RLD quadrants are shown in (b), expressed as the % of the total cell count (10,000).The experiments shown are representative of at least 3 experiments. The data are presented as the means ± sd, n = 36,*<i>p</i> < 0.05.</p