Autoantibodies are associated with disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Several reports have highlighted a potential role of autoreactive B-cells and autoantibodies that correlates with increased disease severity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Here we show that patients with IPF have an altered B-cell phenotype and that those subjects who have autoantibodies against the intermediate filament protein periplakin (PPL) have a significantly worse outcome in terms of progression-free survival. Using a mouse model of lung fibrosis, we demonstrate that introducing antibodies targeting the endogenous protein PPL (mimicking naturally occurring autoantibodies seen in patients) directly in the lung increases lung injury, inflammation, collagen and fibronectin expression through direct activation of follicular dendritic cells, which in turn activates and drives proliferation of fibroblasts. This fibrocyte population was also observed in fibrotic foci of patients with IPF and was increased in peripheral blood of IPF patients compared to aged-matched controls. This study reiterates the complex and heterogeneous nature of IPF, identifying new pathways that may prove suitable for therapeutic intervention.

Rituximab and mycophenolate mofetil combination in patients with interstitial lung disease (EVER-ILD): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Standard of care for interstitial lung disease (ILD) with a nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) pattern proposes mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as one of the first-step therapies while rituximab is used as rescue therapy. METHODS: In a randomised, double-blind, two-parallel group, placebo-controlled trial (NCT02990286), patients with connective tissue disease-associated ILD or idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (with or without autoimmune features) and a NSIP pattern (defined on NSIP pathological pattern or on integration of clinicobiological data and a NSIP-like high-resolution computed tomography pattern) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive rituximab (1000 mg) or placebo on day 1 and day 15 in addition to MMF (2 g daily) for 6 months. The primary end-point was the change in percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) from baseline to 6 months analysed by a linear mixed model for repeated measures analysis. Secondary end-points included progression-free survival (PFS) up to 6 months and safety. FINDINGS: Between January 2017 and January 2019, 122 randomised patients received at least one dose of rituximab (n=63) or placebo (n=59). The least-squares mean change from baseline to 6 months in FVC (% predicted) was +1.60 (se 1.13) in the rituximab+MMF group and -2.01 (se 1.17) in the placebo+MMF group (between-group difference 3.60, 95% CI 0.41-6.80; p=0.0273). PFS was better in the rituximab+MMF group (crude hazard ratio 0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.96; p=0.03). Serious adverse events occurred in 26 (41%) patients of the rituximab+MMF group and in 23 (39%) of the placebo+MMF group. Nine infections were reported in the rituximab+MMF group (five bacterial infections, three viral infections, one other) and four bacterial infections in the placebo+MMF group. INTERPRETATION: Combination of rituximab and MMF was superior to MMF alone in patients with ILD and a NSIP pattern. The use of this combination must take into consideration the risk of viral infection.

Modeling Potential Autophagy Pathways in COVID-19 and Sarcoidosis.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and mainly affects the lungs. Sarcoidosis is an autoinflammatory disease characterized by the diffusion of granulomas in the lungs and other organs. Here, we discuss how the two diseases might involve some common mechanistic cellular pathways around the regulation of autophagy.

Lung transplantation for interstitial lung disease in idiopathic inflammatory myositis: A cohort study.

In patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) complicating classical or amyopathic idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM), lung transplantation outcomes might be affected by the disease and treatments. Here, our objective was to assess survival and prognostic factors in lung transplant recipients with IIM-ILD. We retrospectively reviewed data for 64 patients who underwent lung transplantation between 2009 and 2021 at 19 European centers. Patient survival was the primary outcome. At transplantation, the median age was 53 [46-59] years, 35 (55%) patients were male, 31 (48%) had classical IIM, 25 (39%) had rapidly progressive ILD, and 21 (33%) were in a high-priority transplant allocation program. Survival rates after 1, 3, and 5 years were 78%, 73%, and 70%, respectively. During follow-up (median, 33 [7-63] months), 23% of patients developed chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Compared to amyopathic IIM, classical IIM was characterized by longer disease duration, higher-intensity immunosuppression before transplantation, and significantly worse posttransplantation survival. Five (8%) patients had a clinical IIM relapse, with mild manifestations. No patient experienced ILD recurrence in the allograft. Posttransplantation survival in IIM-ILD was similar to that in international all-cause-transplantation registries. The main factor associated with worse survival was a history of muscle involvement (classical IIM). In lung transplant recipients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, survival was similar to that in all-cause transplantation and was worse in patients with muscle involvement compared to those with the amyopathic disease.

Exposure to inorganic particles in paediatric sarcoidosis: the PEDIASARC study.

Inorganic antigens may contribute to paediatric sarcoidosis. Thirty-six patients matched with 36 healthy controls as well as a group of 21 sickle-cell disease (SCD) controls answered an environmental questionnaire. Patients' indirect exposure to inorganic particles, through coresidents' occupations, was higher than in healthy and SCD controls (median score: 2.5 (0.5-7) vs 0.5 (0-2), p=0.003 and 1 (0-2), p=0.012, respectively), especially for construction, exposures to metal dust, talc, abrasive reagents and scouring products. Wood or fossil energies heating were also linked to paediatric sarcoidosis. This study supports a link between mineral environmental exposure due to adult coresident occupations and paediatric sarcoidosis.

Interstitial lung diseases associated with mutations of poly(A)-specific ribonuclease: A multicentre retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Poly(A)-specific ribonuclease (PARN) mutations have been associated with familial pulmonary fibrosis. This study aims to describe the phenotype of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and heterozygous PARN mutations. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, observational, non-interventional study of patients with an ILD diagnosis and a pathogenic heterozygous PARN mutation followed up in a centre of the OrphaLung network. RESULTS: We included 31 patients (29 from 16 kindreds and two sporadic patients). The median age at ILD diagnosis was 59 years (range 54 to 63). In total, 23 (74%) patients had a smoking history and/or fibrogenic exposure. The pulmonary phenotypes were heterogenous, but the most frequent diagnosis was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n = 12, 39%). Haematological abnormalities were identified in three patients and liver disease in two. In total, 21 patients received a specific treatment for ILD: steroids (n = 13), antifibrotic agents (n = 11), immunosuppressants (n = 5) and N-acetyl cysteine (n = 2). The median forced vital capacity decline for the whole sample was 256 ml/year (range -363 to -148). After a median follow-up of 32 months (range 18 to 66), 10 patients had died and six had undergone lung transplantation. The median transplantation-free survival was 54 months (95% CI 29 to ∞). Extra-pulmonary features were less frequent with PARN mutation than telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) or telomerase RNA component (TERC) mutation. CONCLUSION: IPF is common among individuals with PARN mutation, but other ILD subtypes may be observed.

Impact of Gender on the Characteristics of Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Included in the RaDiCo-ILD Cohort.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence of gender-specific phenotypic differences among patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which may affect patient outcomes. OBJECTIVES: We present the characteristics of patients with IPF at inclusion in the French Rare Disease Cohort - Interstitial Lung Disease (RaDiCo-ILD) with the aim of characterizing gender-specific phenotypic differences. METHODS: Patients with IPF who were enrolled in the national, multicentre RaDiCo-ILD cohort were included. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores, pulmonary function, chest imaging, and IPF treatment were collected at inclusion and described by gender. RESULTS: The cohort included 724 patients with IPF (54% of RaDiCo-ILD cohort), of whom 82.9% were male. The proportion of male and female patients with a prior history of smoking was 75.0% and 26.8%, respectively. Emphysema was present in 17.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.0, 24.0) of men and 5.4% (95% CI: 1.2, 9.6) of women. At inclusion, females had poorer HRQoL than males based on St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire scores (48.5 [95% CI: 43.9, 53.0] and 41.5 [39.4, 43.6], respectively). The mean forced vital capacity per cent predicted was 77.7% (95% CI: 76.2, 79.3) and 87.4% (83.4, 91.4) for males and females, respectively. Honeycombing on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was present in 70.8% (95% CI: 61.0, 80.6) of males and 45.8% (95% CI: 35.1, 56.5) of females. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of patients with IPF at inclusion in the RaDiCo-ILD cohort provides evidence that comorbid emphysema, lung volume reduction, and honeycombing on HRCT are more common characteristics of males than females.

ERS clinical practice guidelines on treatment of sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: The major reasons to treat sarcoidosis are to lower the morbidity and mortality risk or to improve quality of life (QoL). The indication for treatment varies depending on which manifestation is the cause of symptoms: lungs, heart, brain, skin or other manifestations. While glucocorticoids remain the first choice for initial treatment of symptomatic disease, prolonged use is associated with significant toxicity. Glucocorticoid-sparing alternatives are available. The presented treatment guidelines aim to provide guidance to physicians treating the very heterogenous sarcoidosis manifestations. METHODS: A European Respiratory Society Task Force committee composed of clinicians, methodologists and patients with experience in sarcoidosis developed recommendations based on the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) methodology. The committee developed eight PICO (Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes) questions and these were used to make specific evidence-based recommendations. RESULTS: The Task Force committee delivered 12 recommendations for seven PICOs. These included treatment of pulmonary, cutaneous, cardiac and neurologic disease as well as fatigue. One PICO question regarding small-fibre neuropathy had insufficient evidence to support a recommendation. In addition to the recommendations, the committee provided information on how they use alternative treatments, when there was insufficient evidence to support a recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: There are many treatments available to treat sarcoidosis. Given the diverse nature of the disease, treatment decisions require an assessment of organ involvement, risk for significant morbidity, and impact on QoL of the disease and treatment.

Functional assessment and phenotypic heterogeneity of SFTPA1 and SFTPA2 mutations in interstitial lung diseases and lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) can be caused by mutations in the SFTPA1 and SFTPA2 genes, which encode the surfactant protein (SP) complex SP-A. Only 11 SFTPA1 or SFTPA2 mutations have so far been reported worldwide, of which five have been functionally assessed. In the framework of ILD molecular diagnosis, we identified 14 independent patients with pathogenic SFTPA1 or SFTPA2 mutations. The present study aimed to functionally assess the 11 different mutations identified and to accurately describe the disease phenotype of the patients and their affected relatives. METHODS: The consequences of the 11 SFTPA1 or SFTPA2 mutations were analysed both in vitro, by studying the production and secretion of the corresponding mutated proteins and ex vivo, by analysing SP-A expression in lung tissue samples. The associated disease phenotypes were documented. RESULTS: For the 11 identified mutations, protein production was preserved but secretion was abolished. The expression pattern of lung SP-A available in six patients was altered and the family history reported ILD and/or lung adenocarcinoma in 13 out of 14 families (93%). Among the 28 SFTPA1 or SFTPA2 mutation carriers, the mean age at ILD onset was 45 years (range 0.6-65 years) and 48% underwent lung transplantation (mean age 51 years). Seven carriers were asymptomatic. DISCUSSION: This study, which expands the molecular and clinical spectrum of SP-A disorders, shows that pathogenic SFTPA1 or SFTPA2 mutations share similar consequences for SP-A secretion in cell models and in lung tissue immunostaining, whereas they are associated with a highly variable phenotypic expression of disease, ranging from severe forms requiring lung transplantation to incomplete penetrance.

Interleukin-8 release by endothelial colony-forming cells isolated from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients might contribute to their pathogenicity.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease characterized by obliteration of alveolar architecture, resulting in declining lung function and ultimately death. Pathogenic mechanisms involve a concomitant accumulation of scar tissue together with myofibroblasts activation and a strong abnormal vascular remodeling. Endothelial progenitor cells (ECFC subtype) have been investigated in several human lung diseases as a potential actor in IPF. We previously demonstrated that ECFCs are down-regulated in IPF in contrast to healthy controls. We postulated here that ECFCs might behave as a liquid biopsy in IPF patients and that they exert modified vasculogenic properties. METHODS AND RESULTS: ECFCs isolated from controls and IPF patients expressed markers of the endothelial lineage and did not differ concerning adhesion, migration, and differentiation in vitro and in vivo. However, senescent and apoptotic states were increased in ECFCs from IPF patients as shown by galactosidase staining, p16 expression, and annexin-V staining. Furthermore, conditioned medium of IPF-ECFCs had increased level of interleukin-8 that induced migration of neutrophils in vitro and in vivo. In addition, an infiltration by neutrophils was shown in IPF lung biopsies and we found in a prospective clinical study that a high level of neutrophils in peripheral blood of IPF patients was associated to a poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: To conclude, our study shows that IPF patients have a senescent ECFC phenotype associated with an increased IL-8 secretion potential that might contribute to lung neutrophils invasion during IPF.

A 2-Year Observational Study in Patients Suffering from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Treated with Pirfenidone: A French Ancillary Study of PASSPORT.

BACKGROUND: The European observational, prospective PASSPORT study evaluated the long-term safety of pirfenidone under real-world conditions in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), over up to 2 years following its initiation. OBJECTIVES: The FAS (French Ancillary Study) assessed the clinical outcomes of IPF patients participating in PASSPORT (n = 192). METHODS: Efficacy data were collected retrospectively and prospectively. The primary efficacy endpoints were: change in percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) and change in the distance travelled during the 6-min walk test (6MWD). RESULTS: The mean baseline FVC was 71.7% of predicted value. The mean absolute change in the percentage of predicted FVC was -2.4% and -3.8% at months 12 and 24. The mean change in 6MWD was 8.6 and 3.1 m at months 12 and 24, with a range of 23.4-51.7 m. Acute IPF exacerbation and pulmonary hypertension occurred in 20.0 and 8.4% of patients, respectively. The most common reasons for prematurely discontinuing PASSPORT were adverse drug reactions (ADRs) related to pirfenidone (31.3%), death (11.5%), and disease progression (10.9%). The median progression-free survival was 18.4 months (95% CI 12.9, not estimable). The median exposure was 16.3 months (0.5-28.5). The most frequently reported ADRs leading to pirfenidone discontinuation were decreased weight (4.2%), rash (4.2%), and photosensitivity reactions (3.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy data of FAS are consistent with the efficacy results of published phase III clinical trials in IPF. Approximately one third of IPF patients treated with pirfenidone in real-life settings were still under treatment 2 years after initiation. Safety data are consistent with the known safety profile of pirfenidone.

Role of atmospheric pollution on the natural history of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has an unpredictable course corresponding to various profiles: stability, physiological disease progression and rapid decline. A minority of patients experience acute exacerbations (AEs). A recent study suggested that ozone and nitrogen dioxide might contribute to the occurrence of AE. We hypothesised that outdoor air pollution might influence the natural history of IPF. METHODS: Patients were selected from the French cohort COhorte FIbrose (COFI), a national multicentre longitudinal prospective cohort of IPF (n=192). Air pollutant levels were assigned to each patient from the air quality monitoring station closest to the patient's geocoded residence. Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the impact of air pollution on AE, disease progression and death. RESULTS: Onset of AEs was significantly associated with an increased mean level of ozone in the six preceding weeks, with an HR of 1.47 (95% CI 1.13 to 1.92) per 10 µg/m3 (p=0.005). Cumulative levels of exposure to particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5 were above WHO recommendations in 34% and 100% of patients, respectively. Mortality was significantly associated with increased levels of exposure to PM10 (HR=2.01, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.77) per 10 µg/m3 (p=0.03), and PM2.5 (HR=7.93, 95% CI 2.93 to 21.33) per 10 µg/m3 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that air pollution has a negative impact on IPF outcomes, corroborating the role of ozone on AEs and establishing, for the first time, the potential role of long-term exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 on overall mortality.

Obstructive sleep apnoea and related comorbidities in incident idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The objectives of this prospective study were: 1) to determine the prevalence and determinants of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); 2) to determine whether OSA was associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well as increased oxidative stress and levels of IPF biomarkers in the blood.A group of 45 patients with newly diagnosed IPF attended polysomnography. The prevalence of CVD and the severity of coronary artery calcification were investigated by high-resolution computed tomography. The levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-DG) and various IPF biomarkers in the blood were compared between patients with no or mild OSA (apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) <15 events·h-1), with moderate OSA (15 ≤AHI <30 events·h-1) and with severe OSA (AHI ≥30 events·h-1).The prevalence of moderate-to-severe OSA and severe OSA was 62% and 40%, respectively. AHI did not correlate with demographic or physiological data. All patients with severe OSA had a medical history of CVD, versus 41.2% and 40% of those with no or mild OSA, or with moderate OSA, respectively (p<0.0001). Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and moderate-to-severe coronary artery calcifications were strongly associated with severe OSA. The 8-OH-DG and matrix metalloproteinase-7 serum levels were significantly increased in the severe OSA group.Moderate-to-severe OSA is highly prevalent in incident IPF and severe OSA is strongly associated with the presence of CVD, particularly IHD.

In smokers, Sonic hedgehog modulates pulmonary endothelial function through vascular endothelial growth factor.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco-induced pulmonary vascular disease is partly driven by endothelial dysfunction. The Sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway is involved in vascular physiology. We sought to establish whether the SHH pathway has a role in pulmonary endothelial dysfunction in smokers. METHODS: The ex vivo endothelium-dependent relaxation of pulmonary artery rings in response to acetylcholine (Ach) was compared in 34 current or ex-smokers and 8 never-smokers. The results were expressed as a percentage of the contraction with phenylephrine. We tested the effects of SHH inhibitors (GANT61 and cyclopamine), an SHH activator (SAG) and recombinant VEGF on the Ach-induced relaxation. The level of VEGF protein in the pulmonary artery ring was measured in an ELISA. SHH pathway gene expression was quantified in reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reactions. RESULTS: Ach-induced relaxation was much less intense in smokers than in never-smokers (respectively 24 ± 6% and 50 ± 7% with 10-4M Ach; p = 0.028). All SHH pathway genes were expressed in pulmonary artery rings from smokers. SHH inhibition by GANT61 reduced Ach-induced relaxation and VEGF gene expression in the pulmonary artery ring. Recombinant VEGF restored the ring's endothelial function. VEGF gene and protein expression levels in the pulmonary artery rings were positively correlated with the degree of Ach-induced relaxation and negatively correlated with the number of pack-years. CONCLUSION: SHH pathway genes and proteins are expressed in pulmonary artery rings from smokers, where they modulate endothelial function through VEGF.

Prevalence and characteristics of TERT and TERC mutations in suspected genetic pulmonary fibrosis.

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) or telomerase RNA (TERC) gene mutation is a major monogenic cause of pulmonary fibrosis. Sequencing of TERT/TERC genes is proposed to patients with familial pulmonary fibrosis. Little is known about the possible predictors of this mutation and its impact on prognosis.We retrospectively analysed all the genetic diagnoses made between 2007-2014 in patients with pulmonary fibrosis. We evaluated the prevalence of TERT/TERC disease-associated variant (DAV), factors associated with a DAV, and the impact of the DAV on survival.237 patients with pulmonary fibrosis (153 with familial pulmonary fibrosis, 84 with telomere syndrome features without familial pulmonary fibrosis) were tested for TERT/TERC DAV. DAV was diagnosed in 40 patients (16.8%), including five with non-idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. Prevalence of TERT/TERC DAV did not significantly differ between patients with familial pulmonary fibrosis or with only telomere syndrome features (18.2% versus 16.4%). Young age, red blood cell macrocytosis, and low platelet count were associated with the presence of DAV; the probability of DAV was increased for patients 40-60 years. Transplant-free survival was lower with than without TERT/TERC DAV (4.2 versus 7.2 years; p=0.046).TERT/TERC DAV were associated with specific clinical and biological features and reduced transplant-free survival.

Is arginase a potential drug target in tobacco-induced pulmonary endothelial dysfunction?

BACKGROUND: Tobacco-induced pulmonary vascular disease is partly driven by endothelial dysfunction. The bioavailability of the potent vasodilator nitric oxide (NO) depends on competition between NO synthase-3 (NOS3) and arginases for their common substrate (L-arginine). We tested the hypothesis whereby tobacco smoking impairs pulmonary endothelial function via upregulation of the arginase pathway. METHODS: Endothelium-dependent vasodilation in response to acetylcholine (Ach) was compared ex vivo for pulmonary vascular rings from 29 smokers and 10 never-smokers. The results were expressed as a percentage of the contraction with phenylephrine. We tested the effects of L-arginine supplementation, arginase inhibition (by N(omega)-hydroxy-nor-l-arginine, NorNOHA) and NOS3 induction (by genistein) on vasodilation. Protein levels of NOS3 and arginases I and II in the pulmonary arteries were quantified by Western blotting. RESULTS: Overall, vasodilation was impaired in smokers (relative to controls; p < 0.01). Eleven of the 29 smokers (the ED(+) subgroup) displayed endothelial dysfunction (defined as the absence of a relaxant response to Ach), whereas 18 (the ED(-) subgroup) had normal vasodilation. The mean responses to 10(-4) M Ach were -23 ± 10% and 31 ± 4% in the ED(+) and ED(-) subgroups, respectively (p < 0.01). Supplementation with L- arginine improved endothelial function in the ED(+) subgroup (-4 ± 10% vs. -32 ± 10% in the presence and absence of L- arginine, respectively; p = 0.006), as did arginase inhibition (18 ± 9% vs. -1 ± 9%, respectively; p = 0.0002). Arginase I protein was overexpressed in ED(+) samples, whereas ED(+) and ED(-) samples did not differ significantly in terms of NOS3 expression. Treatment with genistein did not significantly improve endothelial function in ED(+) samples. CONCLUSION: Overexpression and elevated activity of arginase I are involved in tobacco-induced pulmonary endothelial dysfunction.