Immune checkpoint analysis of T-cell responses to pp65 and IE-1 antigens in end-stage lung diseases.

Lung transplant (LTX) patients are at high risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, which is often associated with high mortality and morbidity. Reactivation of CMV causes cell injury due to the cytopathic effect of viral replication and triggering of T cell immunity. The aim of this study was to compare expression of immune checkpoints (ICs) (PD-1, CTLA-4, LAG-3 and TIGIT) in CD4, CD8 and CD56 and activation markers CD137, CD154 and CD69 of end-stage patients awaiting lung transplant. Eighteen pre-LTX positive for anti-CMV IgG titres and 18 healthy subjects were enrolled. IC and activation markers have been evaluated through flow cytometric analysis in HC and pre-LTX patients. Reactive (QF+) and unreactive (QF-) patients were stratified according to QuantiFERON-CMV assays. ICs' and activation markers' expression were determined before and after in vitro stimulation with pp-65 and IE-1 antigens. Lower expression of PD-1 was observed in CD4 and CD8 cells of pre-LTX patients than controls, whereas CTLA4 appeared upregulated in CD56 and CD8 cells. TIGIT is increased on the surface of CD4, CD8 and NK cells after peptide stimulation in QF-negative patients and PD-1 is only downregulated after stimulation in the QF-positive patients. This study provides new evidence of immune dysregulation in patients with end-stage lung disorders, particularly in relation to immune checkpoint cell biology. The change in QF+ mostly happens on cytotoxic cells NK and CD8, while the changes in QF- were observed in adaptive immune cells, including CD4 and CD8.

Cytomegalovirus Infection Is Associated with Development of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the major and most common opportunistic infection complicating lung transplant (LTX). The aim of this study was to analyse the epidemiological aspects of CMV infection in lung transplant patients subject to a pre-emptive anti-CMV approach and to study the impact of this infection on lung transplant outcome, in terms of onset of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). METHODS: This single-centre retrospective study enrolled 87 LTX patients (median age 55.81 years; 41 females, 23 single LTX, 64 bilateral LTX). All patients were managed with a pre-emptive anti-CMV approach. The incidences of the first episode of CMV infection, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after LTX, were 12.64%, 44.26%, 50.77% and 56.14%. A median interval of 41 days elapsed between LTX and the first episode of CMV infection. The median blood load of CMV-DNA at diagnosis was 20,385 cp/ml; in 67.64% of cases, it was also the peak value. Patients who had at least one episode had shorter CLAD-free survival. Patients who had three or more episodes of CMV infection had the worst outcome. RESULTS: CMV infection was confirmed to be a common event in lung transplant patients, particularly in the first three months after transplant. It had a negative impact on transplant outcome, being a major risk factor for CLAD. The hypothesis that lower viral replication thresholds may increase the risk of CLAD is interesting and deserves further investigation.

Adaptive immune system in pulmonary sarcoidosis-Comparison of peripheral and alveolar biomarkers.

Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic granulomatous disease of unknown origin. Recent research has focused upon the role of autoimmunity in its development and progression. This study aimed to determine and define the disturbance and distribution of T and B cell subsets in the alveolar and peripheral compartments. Thirteen patients were selected for the study [median age, interquartile range (IQR) = 57 years (48-59); 23% were male]. Twelve healthy controls [median age, IQR = 53 years (52-65); 16% male] were also enrolled into the study. Cellular and cytokine patterns were measured using the cytofluorimetric approach. Peripheral CD8 percentages were higher in sarcoidosis patients (SP) than healthy controls (HC) (p = 0.0293), while CD4 percentages were lower (p = 0.0305). SP showed low bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) percentages of CD19 (p = 0.0004) and CD8 (p = 0.0035), while CD19+ CD5+ CD27- percentages were higher (p = 0.0213); the same was found for CD4 (p = 0.0396), follicular regulatory T cells (Treg ) (p = 0.0078) and Treg (p < 0.0001) cells. Low T helper type 17 (Th17) percentages were observed in BAL (p = 0.0063) of SP. Peripheral CD4+ C-X-C chemokine receptor (CXCR)5+ CD45RA- ) percentages and follicular T helper cells (Tfh)-like Th1 (Tfh1) percentages (p = 0.0493 and p = 0.0305, respectively) were higher in the SP than HC. Tfh1 percentages and Tfh-like Th2 percentages were lower in BAL than in peripheral blood (p = 0.0370 and p = 0.0078, respectively), while CD4+ C-X-C motif CXCR5+ CD45RA- percentages were higher (p = 0.0011). This is the first study, to our knowledge, to demonstrate a link between an imbalance in circulating and alveolar Tfh cells, especially CCR4-, CXCR3- and CXCR5-expressing Tfh subsets in the development of sarcoidosis. These findings raise questions about the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis and may provide new directions for future clinical studies and treatment strategies.

Coronavirus HKU 1 infection with bronchiolitis, pericardial effusion and acute respiratory failure in obese adult female.

Seven species of coronavirus cause acute respiratory illness in humans. Coronavirus HKU 1 (CoV HKU 1) was first described in 2005 in an adult patient with pneumonia in Hong Kong. Although it is a well-known respiratory tract pathogen, there is not much information about its role in hospitalized adults, especially in southern Europe. Here, we describe a case of radiologically demonstrated CoV HKU 1-related bronchiolitis with acute respiratory failure in an adult female without significant comorbidities except obesity.

Serum KL-6 concentrations as a novel biomarker of severe COVID-19.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-induced direct cytopathic effects against type I and II pneumocytes mediate lung damage. Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) is mainly produced by damaged or regenerating alveolar type II pneumocytes. This preliminary study analyzed serum concentrations of KL-6 in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to verify its potential as a prognostic biomarker of severity. Twenty-two patients (median age [interquartile range] 63 [59-68] years, 16 males) with COVID-19 were enrolled prospectively. Patients were divided into mild-moderate and severe groups, according to respiratory impairment and clinical management. KL-6 serum concentrations and lymphocyte subset were obtained. Peripheral natural killer (NK) cells/µL were significantly higher in nonsevere patients than in the severe group (P = .0449) and the best cut-off value was 119 cells/µL. KL-6 serum concentrations were significantly higher in severe patients than the nonsevere group (P = .0118). Receiver operating characteristic analysis distinguished severe and nonsevere patients according to KL-6 serum levels and the best cut-off value was 406.5 U/mL. NK cell analysis and assay of KL-6 in serum can help identify severe COVID-19 patients. Increased KL-6 serum concentrations were observed in patients with severe pulmonary involvement, revealing a prognostic value and supporting the potential usefulness of KL-6 measurement to evaluate COVID-19 patients' prognosis.

Chitotriosidase: a biomarker of activity and severity in patients with sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: Serum chitotriosidase is a promising biomarker that has shown high specificity and sensitivity in patients with sarcoidosis. The aim of this study was to investigate correlations between serum chitotriosidase, clinical phenotypes, disease localizations and different radiological lung involvement and to identify clinical features associated with over-expression of chitotriosidase in a large cohort of sarcoidosis patients. METHODS: Chitotriosidase activity was evaluated in a population of 694 consecutive patients (males 39%, age 55.8 ± 12.8 years). Clinical and respiratory functional characteristics, Clinical Outcome Scale (COS) classification, clinical phenotypes proposed by the GenPhenResA project, and radiological assessment, including CT scan, were collected. Serum sampling and clinical and functional assessments at follow-up were also included. RESULTS: Significantly higher chitotriosidase activity was observed in sarcoidosis patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.0001). Evidence of lung fibrosis with reticular abnormalities and traction bronchiectasis at High resolution CT, presence of multiple extrapulmonary sarcoid localizations and increased 24-h urinary excretion of calcium were associated with significantly higher chitotriosidase activity (p < 0.005). Patients with remitted or minimal disease had lower values of chitotriosidase than patients with persistent disease. At follow-up, patients who required an increase in steroid dose showed an increase in its activity. CONCLUSIONS: Chitotriosidase is a reliable biomarker of sarcoidosis. It is increased in patients with sarcoidosis correlating with disease activity, severity and multiorgan dissemination. Steroid therapy tended to reduce chitotriosidase expression, however it responded in cases of disease relapse.

Correction to: Chitotriosidase: a biomarker of activity and severity in patients with sarcoidosis.

After publication of our article [1] the authors have notified us that one of the names has been incorrectly tagged.

Personalized Approach of Severe Eosinophilic Asthma Patients Treated with Mepolizumab and Benralizumab.

BACKGROUND: New anti-IL-5 antibodies, mepolizumab and benralizumab, have recently been approved for severe asthma, sharing the same inclusion criteria. OBJECTIVE: To contribute on biomarkers research leading to the personalized choice, we investigated L-selectin, Krebs von den Lungen (KL-6), and lymphocyte subsets as bioindicators of airway hyper-responsiveness and remodeling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 28 patients affected by severe eosinophilic asthma were treated with anti-IL-5 drugs. According to clinical parameters, patients were subdivided into early and partial responders. Lymphocytes subsets were analyzed through flow cytometry, while KL-6 and sL-selectin were analyzed on serum samples. Clinical, functional, and immunological data at baseline (T0), after 1 month (T1), and 6 months of therapy were collected in a database. RESULTS: All treated patients showed an increase in the percentage of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio and a decrease of peripheral eosinophils for both drugs after 1 month of treatment. Mepolizumab-treated patients also showed decreased CD8+ and NKT-like cell percentages and a significant increase in sL-selectin concentrations between T0 and T1. Stratifying the cohort of our patients in early and partial responders at T0, they showed a reduction of peripheral eosinophils, sL-selectin and KL-6, while no differences were found at T0 between early and partial responders patients treated with benralizumab. CONCLUSIONS: This real-life study provides new insights for the personalized approach to severe asthma therapy. Although preliminary, the results indicate that besides eosinophils, KL-6 and sL-selectin are useful as biomarkers of early response that can also involve in the pathogenesis of severe asthma.

The Role of Urinary Calcium and Chitotriosidase in a Cohort of Chronic Sarcoidosis Patients.

BACKGROUND: Calcium metabolism alterations are quite common in sarcoidosis and have been correlated with disease activity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical significance of calcium metabolism alterations in patients with chronic sarcoidosis. We paid particular attention to associations with specific disease phenotypes and chitotriosidase (CTO) expression. METHODS: 212 chronic sarcoidosis patients (mean age 56.07 ± 12 years; 97 males) were retrospectively recruited. Demographic, clinical, functional, and radiological data, and serum-urinary calcium metabolism were entered into an electronical database for analysis. Levels of CTO and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were measured and bone mineral density and lung function tests were conducted. RESULTS: Hypercalciuria and hypercalcemia were observed in 18.8 and 1.8% of patients, respectively. Urinary calcium levels correlated with CTO activity (r = 0.33, p = 0.0042). Patients with worsening persistent disease showed the highest levels of urinary calcium. Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) percentage correlated inversely with urinary calcium (r = 0.1482; p = 0.0397). CONCLUSIONS: Calcium metabolism alteration, particularly hypercalciuria, was observed in a significant percentage of patients of sarcoidosis. Urinary calcium was correlated with clinical status, DLCO, and serum CTO activity, suggesting its potential role as a biomarker of the activity and severity of sarcoidosis.

Mepolizumab and Benralizumab in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: Preliminary Results of a Proteomic Study.

Benralizumab and mepolizumab are new therapies for severe eosinophilic asthma. They are both humanized IgG antibodies, targeting the IL-5 receptor and IL-5, respectively, suppressing the corresponding pathways. No specific biomarkers have been proposed to evaluate treatment response to benralizumab or mepolizumab. The aim of this proteomic study was to compare serum protein profiles of patients with severe eosinophilic asthma before and after anti-IL5 or anti-IL5R therapies. Proteomic analysis highlighted 22 differently abundant spots. Among the proteins identified, CAYP1, A1AT and A2M expression was significantly modified in both groups of patients after therapies while ceruloplasmin showed a significant modification in the group of benralizumab treatment. These differentially expressed proteins could be potential biomarkers of response to mepolizumab and benralizumab treatments and need further evaluation.

Metabolic Dysregulation in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fibroproliferative disorder limited to the lung. New findings, starting from our proteomics studies on IPF, suggest that systemic involvement with altered molecular mechanisms and metabolic disorder is an underlying cause of fibrosis. The role of metabolic dysregulation in the pathogenesis of IPF has not been extensively studied, despite a recent surge of interest. In particular, our studies on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid have shown that the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), the hypoxia/oxidative stress response, and changes in iron and lipid metabolism are involved in onset of IPF. These processes appear to interact in an intricate manner and to be related to different fibrosing pathologies not directly linked to the lung environment. The disordered metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and hormones has been documented in lung, liver, and kidney fibrosis. Correcting these metabolic alterations may offer a new strategy for treating fibrosis. This paper focuses on the role of metabolic dysregulation in the pathogenesis of IPF and is a continuation of our previous studies, investigating metabolic dysregulation as a new target for fibrosis therapy.

Extended Exhaled Nitric Oxide Analysis in Interstitial Lung Diseases: A Systematic Review.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a well-known and widely accepted biomarker of airways inflammation that can be useful in the therapeutic management, and adherence to inhalation therapy control, in asthmatic patients. However, the multiple-flows assessment of FeNO can provide a reliable measurement of bronchial and alveolar production of NO, supporting its potential value as biomarker also in peripheral lung diseases, such as interstitial lung diseases (ILD). In this review, we first discuss the role of NO in the pathobiology of lung fibrosis and the technique currently approved for the measurement of maximum bronchial flux of NO (J'awNO) and alveolar concentration of NO (CaNO). We systematically report the published evidence regarding extended FeNO analysis in the management of patients with different ILDs, focusing on its potential role in differential diagnosis, prognostic evaluation and severity assessment of disease. The few available data concerning extended FeNO analysis, and the most common comorbidities of ILD, are explored too. In conclusion, multiple-flows FeNO analysis, and CaNO in particular, appears to be a promising tool to be implemented in the diagnostic and prognostic pathways of patients affected with ILDs.

Bronchoalveolar lavage proteomic analysis in pulmonary fibrosis associated with systemic sclerosis: S100A6 and 14-3-3ε as potential biomarkers.

Objective: SSc is a rare severe connective tissue disorder. Its prognosis is mainly related to the development of pulmonary fibrosis (PF)-SSc and pulmonary arterial hypertension. No known therapy for PF-SSc modifies progressive lung fibrotic involvement. Research is therefore aimed at a deeper understanding of complex pathogenetic mechanisms and the possibility of new prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Methods: Towards the first of these aims, we conducted functional proteomic analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage samples from PF-SSc patients and smoker and non-smoker controls. Results: The differential expression pattern revealed by principal component analysis highlighted a specific protein profile of PF-SSc with respect to control samples, and enrichment analysis shed light on process networks involved in pathogenesis. The proteins identified are known to be involved in lung inflammation of PF-SSc-induced IL6 signalling, the complement system, innate immunity, Jak-STAT, the kallikrein-kinin system, blood coagulation, the immune response mediated by phagocytosis and phagosomes in antigen presentation. In particular, our MetaCore network suggested C3a, APOAI, 14-3-3ε, SPFA2 and S100A6 as potential biomarkers; these are upstream molecules involved in lung fibrosis, innate immunity and vascular damage occurring in PF-SSc. Conclusion: This report provides a molecular overview of pathological processes in PF-SSc, pinpointing possible new disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Alveolar concentration of nitric oxide as a prognostic biomarker in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive fibrotic lung disease leading to respiratory failure and death in 2-5 years from diagnosis. To date, clinical course of disease and prognosis cannot be predicted with an acceptable accuracy. Recently, alveolar concentration of nitric oxide (CaNO) has been proposed as a marker of severity of IPF, but its prognostic value in this setting is unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the reliability of CaNO as a prognostic biomarker in patients with IPF. METHODS: In the Siena Referral Centre for Interstitial Lung Diseases, multiple-flows exhaled nitric oxide analysis was performed to measure CaNO in a cohort of 88 patients with IPF and in 60 healthy controls. In this population, we evaluate functional disease progression and survival according to the follow-up of our Centre. Clinical, functional and radiological data were collected at baseline to investigate correlations with CaNO levels. RESULTS: IPF patients showed significantly higher levels of CaNO than healthy controls (p < 0.0001); CaNO was significantly correlated with many pulmonary functional parameters. Survival analysis showed that all patients with CaNO ≥6 ppb reported a significantly worse outcome. Disease progression, expressed as FVC time to decline to 10% (TTD10), occurred significantly earlier in patients with CaNO ≥ 9 ppb. CONCLUSION: We confirm that CaNO was significantly higher in IPF patients than in healthy controls and its correlation with functional parameters. Moreover, CaNO ≥6 and ≥9 ppb were significantly correlated with mortality and disease progression, respectively. These data suggest that CaNO, a non-invasive and reproducible biomarker, may predict disease progression and survival outcome in patients with IPF.

Pirfenidone Therapy for Familial Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Real-Life Study.

INTRODUCTION: Familial pulmonary fibrosis (FPF) is defined as an idiopathic diffuse parenchymal lung disease affecting two or more members of the same primary biological family. The aim of this study was to compare disease progression and tolerance to pirfenidone in a population of FPF patients who presented with radiological and/or histological evidence of UIP, and a group of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. METHODS: Seventy-three patients (19 with FPF and 54 with IPF) were enrolled and data were collected retrospectively at 6, 12 and 24 months follow-up. RESULTS: FPF patients were statistically younger and more frequently females. A significantly greater decline in FVC and DLCO was recorded in FPF than in IPF patients at 24 months follow-up. At the 6-min walking test, walked distance declined significantly in FPF patients than IPF at 24 months. No statistically significant differences in drug tolerance or side effects were recorded between groups. CONCLUSION: Different rate of progression was observed in patients with IPF and FPF on therapy with pirfenidone; our findings may not be due to lack of effectiveness of therapy, but to the different natural history and evolution of these two conditions. Pirfenidone was well tolerated by FPF and IPF patients. Specific unbiased randomized clinical trials on larger populations to validate our preliminary exploratory results are needed.

Helicobacter pylori Infection Does Not Impact on Lung Transplant Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a spiral, gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that colonises the human gastric mucosa and is associated with gastrointestinal and extragastrointestinal disorders. Since no data are yet available on HP infection in lung transplant patients, we evaluated the prevalence and impact of HP infection in a population of such patients. METHODS: Sixty-seven lung transplant patients were enrolled in the study (35 females and 32 males, age 48.4 ± 13.3 years), 54 underwent bilateral and 13 single lung transplant. Serum antibodies against HP and CagA were assayed in all subjects. RESULTS: The prevalence of HP infection in lung transplant patients was similar to that in the general population (49.25% vs. 51.4%), whereas HP-positive patients showed lower CagA positivity (9% vs. 50.2%, p < 0.0001). There was a higher prevalence of HP infection in patients who underwent lung transplant because of pulmonary fibrosis (p = 0.049), and a lower prevalence in COPD patients (p = 0.011). No correlation was found between HP infection in lung transplant patients and graft outcome. No differences in primary graft dysfunction, acute rejection or bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome-free survival were found. However, more patients who required three or more post-transplant re-hospitalisations were observed among HP-positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HP infection in lung transplant patients was comparable to that of the general population and to that reported in heart and kidney transplant recipients. It did not seem to impact short-, mid- or long-term lung allograft outcome. H. pylori infection did not prove to be clinically relevant in lung transplant patients.

Mortality on the Waiting List for Lung Transplantation in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Single-Centre Experience.

PURPOSE: Lung transplantation (LTX) is nowadays accepted as a treatment option for selected patients with end-stage pulmonary disease. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by the radiological and histologic appearance of usual interstitial pneumonia. It is associated with a poor prognosis, and LTX is considered an effective treatment to significantly modify the natural history of this disease. The aim of the present study was to analyse mortality during the waiting list in IPF patients at a single institution. METHODS: A retrospective analysis on IPF patients (n = 90) referred to our Lung Transplant Program in the period 2001-2014 was performed focusing on patients' characteristics and associated risk factors. RESULTS: Diagnosis of IPF was associated with high mortality on the waiting list with respect to other diagnosis (p < 0.05). No differences in demographic, clinical, radiological data and time spent on the waiting list were observed between IPF patients who underwent to LTX or lost on the waiting list. Patients who died showed significant higher levels of pCO2 and needed higher flows of O2-therapy on effort (p < 0.05). Pulmonary function tests failed to predict mortality and no other medical conditions were associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients newly diagnosed with IPF, especially in small to medium lung transplant volume centres and in Countries where a long waiting list is expected, should be immediately referred to transplantation, delay results in increased mortality. Early identification of IPF patients with a rapid progressive phenotype is strongly needed.

Exploring the Interaction between Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Biologic Treatment in Severe Asthma: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a biomarker of airway inflammation associated with airway hyper-responsiveness and type-2 inflammation. Its role in the management of severe asthmatic patients undergoing biologic treatment, as well as FeNO dynamics during biologic treatment, is largely unexplored. PURPOSE: The aim was to evaluate published data contributing to the following areas: (1) FeNO as a predictive biomarker of response to biologic treatment; (2) the influence of biologic treatment in FeNO values; (3) FeNO as a biomarker for the prediction of exacerbations in patients treated with biologics. METHODS: The systematic search was conducted on the Medline database through the Pubmed search engine, including all studies from 2009 to the present. RESULTS: Higher baseline values of FeNO are associated with better clinical control in patients treated with omalizumab, dupilumab, and tezepelumab. FeNO dynamics during biologic treatment highlights a clear reduction in FeNO values in patients treated with anti-IL4/13 and anti-IL13, as well as in patients treated with tezepelumab. During the treatment, FeNO may help to predict clinical worsening and to differentiate eosinophilic from non-eosinophilic exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS: Higher baseline FeNO levels appear to be associated with a greater benefit in terms of clinical control and reduction of exacerbation rate, while FeNO dynamics during biologic treatment remains a largely unexplored issue since few studies have investigated it as a primary outcome. FeNO remains detectable during biologic treatment, but its potential utility as a biomarker of clinical control is still unclear and represents an interesting research area to be developed.

The Effectiveness of Nintedanib in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Familial Pulmonary Fibrosis and Progressive Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Diseases: A Real-World Study.

Background: Nintedanib is an oral multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Recent evidence demonstrated that nintedanib reduced functional disease progression also in subjects with non-IPF progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD). However, real-life data on the effectiveness of nintedanib in PF-ILD and familial pulmonary fibrosis (FPF) are lacking. Methods: this retrospective monocentric study enrolled 197 patients affected with IPF, PF-ILD and FPF treated with nintedanib at the Referral Centre of Siena from 2014 to 2021. Pulmonary functional tests and survival data were collected throughout the observation period for the evaluation of mortality and disease progression outcomes. Results: nintedanib treatment significantly reduced the FVC decline rate in IPF and PF-ILD subgroups, but not in FPF subjects. No significant differences were observed among the subgroups in terms of survival, which appeared to be influenced by gender and impaired lung function (FVC < 70% of predicted value). Concerning disease progression rate, a diagnosis of FPF is associated with more pronounced FVC decline despite nintedanib treatment. Conclusions: our research studies the effectiveness and safety of nintedanib in reducing functional disease progression of IPF and PF-ILD. FPF appeared to be less responsive to nintedanib, even though no differences were observed in terms of survival.

Immunologic responses to antifibrotic treatment in IPF patients.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive interstitial lung disease limited to the lungs. Immunological dysregulation may significantly participate in the pathophysiology of IPF. The immunological responses to nintedanib therapy in IPF patients were investigated for the first time in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty IPF patients (median age (IQR) 69 (65-75) years; 38 males), were selected retrospectively. Flowcytometry analysis were performed to phenotype immunological biomarkers in peripheral blood from IPF patients after 1 year of antifibrotic therapy and a group of healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Before starting antifibrotic treatment, IPF patients showed increased CD1d+CD5+ (p = 0.0460), Treg (p = 0.0354), T effector (CD25highCD127high) (p = 0.0336), central cells (CD4+CD45RA-) (p = 0.0354), effector cells (CD4+CD45RA+) (p = 0.0249) and follicular cell percentages (p = 0.0006), notably Tfh1 (p = 0.0412) and Tfh17 (p = 0.0051) cell percentages, in respect with healthy controls (HC). After nintedanib therapy, Breg (p = 0.0302), T effector (p = 0.0468), Th17.1 (p = 0.0146) and follicular cells (p = 0.0006), notably Tfh1 (p = 0.0006) and Tfh17 (p = 0.0182) cell percentages, were significantly decreased. In the logistic regression, Tfh panel showed a significant area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) to distinguish IPF than HC (90.5%), as well as t0 and t1 (99.3%). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the immunological results obtained in this study demonstrate that nintedanib significantly helps to restore immunological responses in IPF patients. These findings will be useful in the search for biomarkers predictive of response to antifibrotic treatment.