Blood eosinophil count and airway epithelial transcriptome relationships in COPD versus asthma.

BACKGROUND: Whether the clinical or pathophysiologic significance of the "treatable trait" high blood eosinophil count in COPD is the same as for asthma remains controversial. We sought to determine the relationship between the blood eosinophil count, clinical characteristics and gene expression from bronchial brushings in COPD and asthma. METHODS: Subjects were recruited into a COPD (emphysema versus airway disease [EvA]) or asthma cohort (Unbiased BIOmarkers in PREDiction of respiratory disease outcomes, U-BIOPRED). We determined gene expression using RNAseq in EvA (n = 283) and Affymetrix microarrays in U-BIOPRED (n = 85). We ran linear regression analysis of the bronchial brushings transcriptional signal versus blood eosinophil counts as well as differential expression using a blood eosinophil > 200 cells/µL as a cut-off. The false discovery rate was controlled at 1% (with continuous values) and 5% (with dichotomized values). RESULTS: There were no differences in age, gender, lung function, exercise capacity and quantitative computed tomography between eosinophilic versus noneosinophilic COPD cases. Total serum IgE was increased in eosinophilic asthma and COPD. In EvA, there were 12 genes with a statistically significant positive association with the linear blood eosinophil count, whereas in U-BIOPRED, 1197 genes showed significant associations (266 positive and 931 negative). The transcriptome showed little overlap between genes and pathways associated with blood eosinophil counts in asthma versus COPD. Only CST1 was common to eosinophilic asthma and COPD and was replicated in independent cohorts. CONCLUSION: Despite shared "treatable traits" between asthma and COPD, the molecular mechanisms underlying these clinical entities are predominately different.

Three-Year Hospitalization and Mortality in Elderly Smokers with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or Chronic Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: In elderly smokers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart failure (CHF) usually present with dyspnoea. COPD and CHF are associated -almost invariably with concomitant chronic diseases, which contribute to severity and prognosis. OBJECTIVES: We investigated similarities and differences in the clinical presentation, concomitant chronic diseases and risk factors for -mortality and hospitalization at 3-year follow-up in elderly smokers/ex-smokers with a primary diagnosis of COPD or CHF recruited and followed in specialized centers. METHODS: We examined 144 patients with COPD and 96 with CHF, ≥65 years, ≥20 pack/years, and measured COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score, modified Medical Research Council, NYHA, and Charlson Index, routine blood test, estimated glomerular filtration rate, HRCT scan, 6-min walk test. In addition, in each patient we actively searched for CHF, COPD, peripheral vascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: COPD and CHF patients had mild to moderate disease, but the majority was symptomatic. Comorbidities were highly prevalent and often unrecognized in both groups. COPD and CHF patients had a similar risk of hospitalization and death at 3 years. Lower glomerular filtration rate, shorter 6MWT, and ascending aorta calcification score ≥2 were independent predictors of mortality in COPD, whereas previous 12 months hospitalizations, renal disease, and heart diameter were in CHF patients. Lower glomerular filtration rate value, higher CAT score, and lower FEV1/FVC ratio were associated with hospitalization in COPD, while age, lower FEV1% predicted, and peripheral vascular disease were in CHF. CONCLUSIONS: There are relevant similarities and differences between patients with COPD and CHF even when admitted to specialized outpatient centers, suggesting that these patients should be manage in multidisciplinary units.

Antifibrotic treatment response and prognostic predictors in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and exposed to occupational dust.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is an aggressive interstitial lung disease with an unpredictable course. Occupational dust exposure may contribute to IPF onset, but its impact on antifibrotic treatment and disease prognosis is still unknown. We evaluated clinical characteristics, respiratory function and prognostic predictors at diagnosis and at 12 month treatment of pirfenidone or nintedanib in IPF patients according to occupational dust exposure. METHODS: A total of 115 IPF patients were recruited. At diagnosis, we collected demographic, clinical characteristics, occupational history. Pulmonary function tests were performed and two prognostic indices [Gender, Age, Physiology (GAP) and Composite Physiologic Index (CPI)] calculated, both at diagnosis and after the 12 month treatment. The date of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) initiation was recorded during the entire follow-up (mean = 37.85, range 12-60 months). RESULTS: At baseline, patients exposed to occupational dust [≥ 10 years (n = 62)] showed a lower percentage of graduates (19.3% vs 54.7%; p = 0.04) and a higher percentage of asbestos exposure (46.8% vs 18.9%; p 0.002) than patients not exposed [< 10 years (n = 53)]. Both at diagnosis and after 12 months of antifibrotics, no significant differences for respiratory function and prognostic predictors were found. The multivariate analysis confirmed that occupational dust exposure did not affect neither FVC and DLCO after 12 month therapy nor the timing of LTOT initiation. CONCLUSION: Occupational dust exposure lasting 10 years or more does not seem to influence the therapeutic effects of antifibrotics and the prognostic predictors in patients with IPF.

Biomarkers of respiratory allergy in laboratory animal care workers: an observational study.

OBJECTIVES: Laboratory animal allergy is a highly prevalent occupational disease among exposed workers. The aim of the study was to validate the biomarkers of airway inflammation in laboratory animal (LA) care workers. METHODS: All of the participants in this observational study (63 LA care workers and 64 controls) were administered a clinical questionnaire, underwent spirometry and a skin prick or radioallergosorbent test for common and occupational aeroallergens, and the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO50), exhaled breath condensate hydrogen peroxide (EBC H2O2) and serum pneumoprotein levels were measured. Multivariate analysis (ANCOVA) was used to assess the interactions of the variables. RESULTS: FeNO50 levels correlated with exposure (p = 0.002), sensitisation (p = 0.000) and age (p = 0.001), but there was no interaction between exposure and sensitisation when age was considered in the model (p = 0.146). EBC-H2O2 levels were higher in the sensitised workers than in the sensitised controls [0.14 (0.08-0.29) µM vs 0.07 (0.05-0.12) µM; p < 0.05]. Serum surfactant protein A (SP-A) levels were unaffected by exposure, sensitisation or age, although higher levels were observed in symptomatic workers; however, SP-D levels were influenced by exposure (p = 0.024) and age (p = 0.022), and club cell 16 levels were influenced by sensitisation (p = 0.027) and age (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of the clinical symptoms associated with LA exposure and high FeNO levels should prompt further medical assessments in LA workers. Although EBC-H2O2 levels do not seem to reflect eosinophilic inflammation, serum SP-A levels could be used to monitor progression from rhinitis to asthma.

[Incidence of biological accidents at work and immune status for vaccine-preventable diseases among resident physicians in specialist training at Ferrara University Hospital]. / Studio di incidenza sugli infortuni biologici nei medici in formazione specialistica dell'Azienda Ospedaliero - Universitaria di Ferrara e stato immunitario nei confronti delle principali infezioni prevenibili.

The hospital as a work environment is particularly characterized by various risks for healthcare workers (HCWs). The main risk is represented by biological accidents, associated with the parenteral transmission of pathogens. Biological injuries can occur during the care service and the manipulation of biological fluids. Hepatitis B (and hepatitis D), hepatitis C and HIV are the most common infections transmitted by biological injuries. Physicians should acquire awareness of the risks associated with their professional activity during their training as medical residents (MRs). Some infectious diseases are preventable by vaccination and the "National Immunization Plan 2017-2019" (PNPV) recommends HCWs vaccination against hepatitis B, influenza, measles -mumps -rubella, chicken pox, and pertussis. Besides, not only HCWs' vaccination can prevent the disease in healthcare professionals, but it also may reduce the transmission to patients. Therefore, active immunization of HCWs by recommended vaccinations plays an important role to prevent disease cases, complications and death in patients. An increased awareness of risk behaviors is the first important point to address in order to reduce biological accidents and infectious diseases transmission, so as to reduce their frequency. Besides, HCWs' vaccination is useful to reinforce protection and to prevent the transmission of some infectious diseases in case of exposure. The aim of this five-year incidence study is to investigate the MRs' biological accidents characteristics and to analyze the MRs' immune status at the University of Ferrara in the period 2011-2015. Data on MRs' biological accidents and immune status at Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Ferrara in 2011-2015 were analyzed by Microsoft Excel 2007 Software. In this study, the percentage of MRs' biological injuries compared to the total number of MRs showed an annual variability, with a peak in 2011 (11.9%). During the analyzed period, there were 190 biological injuries among the MRs: 81% were percutaneous injuries and blood was the biological fluid involved in 86.3% of cases. The most frequent lesion was puncture (62.6%), occurred in 41.1% of cases by suture needles; 46.3% of accidents occurred in the operating block. These data can be explained by the more invasive and at risk activities carried out in these Operative Units. The high injuries percentage in MRs may be related to less work experience and inadequate training or informations about personal protective equipment use. Among MRs, 93.7%, 93.3% and 96.6% were immune to measles, chicken pox and hepatitis B, respectively; only in the case of rubella, 11.9% of MRs was not immune. This research showed, accordingly to published data, high adhesion to hepatitis B vaccination. However, the healthcare workers' vaccine coverage is still sub-optimal; active immunization by recommended vaccines should be implemented for both parenteral and airborne diseases. As a matter of fact, the recent measles outbreak has involved healthcare workers (4689 cases of measles, 305 in HCWs). Finally, the General Directorates of Health-care settings should improve healthcare personnel adhesion to vaccinations, such as influenza, by promotion activities in the workplace. A proposal in order to achieve coverage objectives could be making vaccinations mandatory, as well as already implemented in other countries.

Emphysema- and airway-dominant COPD phenotypes defined by standardised quantitative computed tomography.

EvA (Emphysema versus Airway disease) is a multicentre project to study mechanisms and identify biomarkers of emphysema and airway disease in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study was to delineate objectively imaging-based emphysema-dominant and airway disease-dominant phenotypes using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) indices, standardised with a novel phantom-based approach.441 subjects with COPD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages 1-3) were assessed in terms of clinical and physiological measurements, laboratory testing and standardised QCT indices of emphysema and airway wall geometry.QCT indices were influenced by scanner non-conformity, but standardisation significantly reduced variability (p<0.001) and led to more robust phenotypes. Four imaging-derived phenotypes were identified, reflecting "emphysema-dominant", "airway disease-dominant", "mixed" disease and "mild" disease. The emphysema-dominant group had significantly higher lung volumes, lower gas transfer coefficient, lower oxygen (PO2 ) and carbon dioxide (PCO2 ) tensions, higher haemoglobin and higher blood leukocyte numbers than the airway disease-dominant group.The utility of QCT for phenotyping in the setting of an international multicentre study is improved by standardisation. QCT indices of emphysema and airway disease can delineate within a population of patients with COPD, phenotypic groups that have typical clinical features known to be associated with emphysema-dominant and airway-dominant disease.

Biomarkers of oxidative-stress and inflammation in exhaled breath condensate from hospital cleaners.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the impact of chlorinated agents exposure on exhaled breath condensate (EBC) biomarkers in cleaners. METHODS: Malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), nitrites (NO2(-)), nitrates (NO3(-)), pH, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ammonium (NH3(+)) were tested in EBC of 40 cleaners and 40 non-exposed controls. Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) and soluble type II receptor of IL-1 (sIL-1RII) were analyzed also in plasma. RESULTS: Levels of MDA-EBC, 4-HNE-EBC and NO3(-)-EBC were higher, while pH-EBC values were lower, in cleaners. MDA-EBC was associated with 4-HNE-EBC, NO3(-)-EBC and pH. 4-HNE-EBC correlated with PTX3. CONCLUSION: Professional exposure to chlorinated agents increases EBC biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation.

[A survey on injuries among nurses and nursing students: a descriptive epidemiologic analysis between 2002 and 2012 at a University Hospital]. / Indagine sugli infortune tra il personale infermieristico e gli studenti del corso di laurea in infermieristica: analisi epidemiologica descrittiva nel period 2002-2012 in un'Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria.

BACKGROUND: Biological risk is the main occupational hazard in hospitals (40-50% of the total). More than 130,000 injuries occur every year in Italy and nurses are the most affected occupational category. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the incidence of injuries related to biological risk in nurses and nursing students in the University Hospital of Ferrara, how they occur, the knowledge on the topic and on behaviour during the department's activity. METHODS: A retrospective study involving a sample of 8 departments (selected for the occurrence of more than 30 biological injuries between 1st January 2002 and 31 December 2012) recorded injuries related to biological risk; subsequently a cross-sectional survey was carried out through a questionnaire administered to nurses and nursing students. RESULTS: 909 biological accidents were reported (81.18% in nurses and 18.82% in students). Blood was the main biological material involved (83.72% of cases), mostly by percutaneous exposure (84.16%). According to the questionnaire, 53% of subjects reported having had at least one injury during their career, and 5.72% did not report it; 46% reported doing risky procedures (re-capping needles) and 95.45% that they had been informed about the correct use of PPE. CONCLUSIONS: The lower percentage of injuries in students could be linked to good university training and to less risky procedures being performed. Re-capping needles remains one of the most dangerous manoeuvers practised. Ongoing training on the correct use of PPE is essential to train prepared and aware health professionals.

Plasma sRAGE and N-(carboxymethyl) lysine in patients with CHF and/or COPD.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the role of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), particularly its soluble form (sRAGE), and of its advanced glycation end product (AGE) ligand, N-(carboxymethyl)lysine adducts (CML), is limited in chronic heart failure (CHF) and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated whether the AGE/RAGE system is activated in stable CHF and COPD, and whether plasma sRAGE and CML levels are affected by clinical and functional parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured plasma levels of sRAGE and CML using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 143 subjects, aged ≥ 65 years, divided into five groups: 58 with CHF, 23 with COPD, 27 with CHF+COPD and 35 controls (17 healthy smokers and 18 healthy nonsmokers). Individuals with diabetes were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Plasma levels of sRAGE and CML were higher in CHF patients than in controls [sRAGE: 0.48 (0.37-0.83) vs. 0.42 (0.29-0.52) ng/mL, P = 0.01; CML: 1.95 (1.58-2.38) vs. 1.68 (1.43-2.00) ng/mL, P = 0.01]. By contrast, sRAGE and CML were not different between both COPD and CHF+COPD patients and controls (P > 0.05). N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-pro BNP) correlated with sRAGE, but not with CML, in the patient groups: CHF (r = 0.43, P < 0.001), COPD (r = 0.77, P < 0.0001) and CHF/COPD (r = 0.43, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma levels of sRAGE and CML are increased in CHF, but not in COPD patients. The robust association between NT-pro BNP, a diagnostic and prognostic marker in CHF, and sRAGE concentrations might suggest a possible BNP pathway of amplification of inflammation via the AGE/RAGE system.

Occurrence and impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in elderly patients with stable heart failure.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The coexistence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart failure (CHF) increases with age. The occurrence, prognosis and therapeutic implications of concurrent COPD in elderly patients with CHF were investigated. METHODS: One hundred and eighteen consecutive patients, ≥ 65 years old with ≥ 10 pack/years of smoking and with a verified diagnosis of CHF in stable condition, were enrolled. They were followed for a mean of 1029 (range 758-1064) days. All patients had spirometry and the diagnosis and classification of COPD were made according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines. RESULTS: The mean occurrence of COPD was 30% (90% confidence interval: 24-37%). At baseline in patients with CHF and COPD, there was a shorter 6-min walk distance, lower arterial oxygen tension, glomerular filtration rate and higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (all P < 0.05). The prescription of CHF therapies, including ß-blockers, was similar in the two groups. After follow up, the presence of COPD in patients with CHF did not appear to influence survival. CONCLUSIONS: COPD is relatively frequent in elderly patients with CHF. COPD did not alter survival.

The EvA study: aims and strategy.

The EvA study is a European Union-funded project under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), which aims at defining new markers for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its subtypes. The acronym is derived from emphysema versus airway disease, indicating that the project targets these two main phenotypes of the disease. The EvA study is based on the concept that emphysema and airway disease are governed by different pathophysiological processes, are driven by different genes and have differential gene expression in the lung. To define these genes, patients and non-COPD controls are recruited for clinical examination, lung function analysis and computed tomography (CT) of the lung. CT scans are used to define the phenotypes based on lung density and airway wall thickness. This is followed by bronchoscopy in order to obtain samples from the airways and the alveoli. These tissue samples, along with blood samples, are then subjected to genome-wide expression and association analysis and markers linked to the phenotypes are identified. The population of the EvA study is different from other COPD study populations, since patients with current oral glucocorticoids, antibiotics and exacerbations or current smokers are excluded, such that the signals detected in the molecular analysis are due to the distinct inflammatory process of emphysema and airway disease in COPD.

Link between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary artery disease: implication for clinical practice.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are global epidemics that incur significant morbidity and mortality. These diseases are frequently found in combination, and they can also be found independent of the common causal factors, primarily smoking. Both conditions are systemic disorders with overlapping mechanisms and pathophysiologic processes. CAD has a strong effect on the severity and prognosis of COPD and vice versa, including acute exacerbations. Even the most recent practical clinical recommendations driven by Clinical Practice Guidelines still focus on one disease at a time, and do not provide advice for the management of patients with associated chronic conditions. COPD should be approached in a more comprehensive manner, including the treatment of cardiac comorbidities, particularly CAD. To focus treatment on these comorbidities might modify the natural course of the disease in patients with COPD who may not find relief from treatment of COPD alone.

[Reduction of injuries related to manual handling of patients: two preventive methods used in five Ferrara district hospitals]. / Riduzione degli infortuni relativi alla movimentazione carichi/pazienti in un'Azienda Sanitaria Locale: analisi degli interventi preventivi prima e dopo.

AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of two training programs on the reduction of injuries from manual handling of patients in five hospitals under the district of Ferrara. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed injuries that occurred between 2002 and 2010. In 2004/2005 and 2008/2010 the health-care workers underwent to two different training programs. In 2007, the hospitals purchased assistive devices. RESULTS: In 2006 there were 82 accidents. After the acquisition of the assistive devices (2007) and the new training program (2008/2010), the accidents dropped to 32. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the effectiveness of the combined training programs and assistive devices in reducing the number of accidents.

Circulating microRNA-197-3p as a potential biomarker for asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is considered the main cause of diseases in workers exposed to this mineral in the workplace as well as an environmental pollutant. The association between asbestos and the onset of different diseases has been reported, but asbestos exposure specific biomarkers are not known. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-strand, non-coding RNAs, with potential value as diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive markers in liquid biopsies. Sera collected from workers ex-exposed to asbestos (WEA) fibers were compared with sera from healthy subjects (HS) of similar age, as liquid biopsies. The expression of the circulating miRNA 197-3p was investigated employing two different highly analytical PCR methods, i.e. RT-qPCR and ddPCR. MiR-197-3p levels were tested in sera from WEA compared to HS. MiR-197-3p tested dysregulated in sera from WEA (n = 75) compared to HS (n = 62). Indeed, miR-197-3p was found to be 2.6 times down-regulated in WEA vs. HS (p = 0.0001***). In addition, an inverse correlation was detected between miR-197-3p expression level and cumulative asbestos exposure, being this miRNA down-regulated 2.1 times in WEA, with high cumulative asbestos exposure, compared to WEA with low exposure (p = 0.0303*). Circulating miR-197-3p, found to be down regulated in sera from WEA, is proposed as a new potential biomarker of asbestos exposure.

Lung microbiome composition and bronchial epithelial gene expression in patients with COPD versus healthy individuals: a bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and host transcriptomic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with airway inflammation and bacterial dysbiosis. The relationship between the airway microbiome and bronchial gene expression in COPD is poorly understood. We aimed to identify differences in the airway microbiome from bronchial brushings in patients with COPD and healthy individuals and to investigate whether any distinguishing bacteria are related to bronchial gene expression. METHODS: For this 16S rRNA gene sequencing and host transcriptomic analysis, individuals aged 45-75 years with mild-to-moderate COPD either receiving or not receiving inhaled corticosteroids and healthy individuals in the same age group were recruited as part of the Emphysema versus Airways Disease (EvA) consortium from nine centres in the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Hungary. Individuals underwent clinical characterisation, spirometry, CT scans, and bronchoscopy. From bronchoscopic bronchial brush samples, we obtained the microbial profiles using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gene expression using the RNA-Seq technique. We analysed bacterial genera relative abundance and the associations between genus abundance and clinical characteristics or between genus abundance and host lung transcriptional signals in patients with COPD versus healthy individuals, and in patients with COPD with versus without inhaled corticosteroids treatment. FINDINGS: Between February, 2009, and March, 2012, we obtained brush samples from 574 individuals. We used 546 of 574 samples for analysis, including 207 from healthy individuals and 339 from patients with COPD (192 with inhaled corticosteroids and 147 without). The bacterial genera that most strongly distinguished patients with COPD from healthy individuals were Prevotella (median relative abundance 33·5%, IQR 14·5-49·4, in patients with COPD vs 47·7%, 31·1-60·7, in healthy individuals; p<0·0001), Streptococcus (8·6%, 3·8-15·8, vs 5·3%, 3·0-10·1; p<0·0001), and Moraxella (0·05%, 0·02-0·14, vs 0·02%, 0-0·07; p<0·0001). Prevotella abundance was inversely related to COPD severity in terms of symptoms and positively related to lung function and exercise capacity. 446 samples had assessable RNA-seq data, 257 from patients with COPD (136 with inhaled corticosteroids and 121 without) and 189 from healthy individuals. No significant associations were observed between lung transcriptional signals from bronchial brushings and abundance of bacterial genera in patients with COPD without inhaled corticosteroids treatment and in healthy individuals. In patients with COPD treated with inhaled corticosteroids, Prevotella abundance was positively associated with expression of epithelial genes involved in tight junction promotion and Moraxella abundance was associated with expression of the IL-17 and TNF inflammatory pathways. INTERPRETATION: With increasing severity of COPD, the airway microbiome is associated with decreased abundance of Prevotella and increased abundance of Moraxella in concert with downregulation of genes promoting epithelial defence and upregulation of pro-inflammatory genes associated with inhaled corticosteroids use. Our work provides further insight in understanding the relationship between microbiome alteration and host inflammatory response, which might lead to novel therapeutic strategies for COPD. FUNDING: EU Seventh Framework Programme, National Institute for Health Research.

Gender specific airway gene expression in COPD sub-phenotypes supports a role of mitochondria and of different types of leukocytes.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a destructive inflammatory disease and the genes expressed within the lung are crucial to its pathophysiology. We have determined the RNAseq transcriptome of bronchial brush cells from 312 stringently defined ex-smoker patients. Compared to healthy controls there were for males 40 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 73 DEGs for females with only 26 genes shared. The gene ontology (GO) term "response to bacterium" was shared, with several different DEGs contributing in males and females. Strongly upregulated genes TCN1 and CYP1B1 were unique to males and females, respectively. For male emphysema (E)-dominant and airway disease (A)-dominant COPD (defined by computed tomography) the term "response to stress" was found for both sub-phenotypes, but this included distinct up-regulated genes for the E-sub-phenotype (neutrophil-related CSF3R, CXCL1, MNDA) and for the A-sub-phenotype (macrophage-related KLF4, F3, CD36). In E-dominant disease, a cluster of mitochondria-encoded (MT) genes forms a signature, able to identify patients with emphysema features in a confirmation cohort. The MT-CO2 gene is upregulated transcriptionally in bronchial epithelial cells with the copy number essentially unchanged. Both MT-CO2 and the neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL1 are induced by reactive oxygen in bronchial epithelial cells. Of the female DEGs unique for E- and A-dominant COPD, 88% were detected in females only. In E-dominant disease we found a pronounced expression of mast cell-associated DEGs TPSB2, TPSAB1 and CPA3. The differential genes discovered in this study point towards involvement of different types of leukocytes in the E- and A-dominant COPD sub-phenotypes in males and females.

Mechanisms of occupational asthma.

Inhalation of agents in the workplace can induce asthma in a relatively small proportion of exposed workers. Like nonoccupational asthma, occupational asthma is probably the result of multiple genetic, environmental, and behavioral influences. It is important that occupational asthma be recognized clinically because it has serious medical and socioeconomic consequences. Environmental factors that can affect the initiation of occupational asthma include the intrinsic characteristics of causative agents as well as the influence of the level and route of exposure at the workplace. The identification of host factors, polymorphisms, and candidate genes associated with occupational asthma may improve our understanding of mechanisms involved in asthma. High-molecular-weight compounds from biological sources and low-molecular-weight chemicals cause occupational asthma after a latent period of exposure. Although the clinical, functional, and pathologic features of occupational asthma caused by low-molecular-weight agents resemble those of allergic asthma, the failure to detect specific IgE antibodies against most low-molecular-weight agents has resulted in a search for alternative or complementary physiopathologic mechanisms leading to airway sensitization. Recent advances have been made in the characterization of the immune response to low-molecular-weight agents. In contrast, the mechanism of the type of occupational asthma that occurs without latency after high-level exposure to irritants remains undetermined.

Plasma soluble HLA-G levels in a cohort of heart failure patients exposed to chemicals.

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome caused by structural and/or functional cardiac abnormalities, resulting in a reduced cardiac output and/or elevated intracardiac pressures. Several studies reported a crucial role of immune activation and inflammation in the chronic heart failure (HF) pathogenesis, suggesting that pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators could be predictive markers of the HF development and/or progression. Human Leukocyte Antigen-G (HLA-G), a tolerogenic and anti-inflammatory class I non-classical major histocompatibility complex molecule, was reported to be upregulated in patients diagnosed with HF, suggesting a tentative to regulate the inflammatory condition. We evaluated soluble (s)HLA-G plasmatic levels in patients with stable chronic heart failure at baseline visit and after 6 and 12 months. The 14 bp Insertion/Deletion polymorphisms of the HLA-G gene was also analyzed. We showed that in HF subjects, sHLA-G levels were higher in NYHA class II and III subjects (mild-severe symptoms) (6.11 ± 1.15 ng/ml; 8.25 ± 2.27 ng/ml, respectively) in comparison with NYHA class I subjects (no symptoms) (2.35 ± 0.43 ng/ml) (I vs II: p = 0.0156; I vs III: p = 0.0122). Moreover, the exposure to chemicals seems to affect sHLA-G levels, with higher sHLA-G levels in exposed patients (3.36 ± 5.12 ng/ml) in comparison with unexposed subjects (2.01 ± 2.84 ng/ml). The HLA-G 3'UTR 14 bp INS/DEL polymorphism correlated with sHLA-G, with the 14 bp INS/INS genotype associated with higher sHLA-G levels during the 12 months follow-up in unexposed subjects (p = 0.008). In conclusion, these results support a correlation between sHLA-G levels, genetics and HF disease in presence of work chemical exposition.

Causes and Phenotypes of Work-Related Asthma.

Work-related asthma (WRA) includes heterogeneous conditions, which have in common (i) symptoms and signs compatible with asthma and (ii) a relationship with exposures in the workplace. The types of WRA described in this review are distinguished by their etiology, comprising of work-exacerbated asthma (WEA), irritant-induced asthma (IIA), and immunologic occupational asthma (OA). There have been significant advances in the definition and characterization of the different forms of WRA by international panels of experts. The present review provides a comprehensive and updated view of the current knowledge on causes and phenotypes of WRA. Health care practitioners should consider WRA in any case of adult asthma, given that one fifth of workers with asthma report symptoms of WEA and it has been estimated that OA represents 10% to 25% of asthma in adulthood. The information provided in this review will facilitate the physician in the recognition of the different forms of WRA, since it has been established that five categories of agents are responsible for at least 60% of WEA cases and seven groups of agents are the cause of 70% of immunologic OA. In addition, there is agreement that IIA can be elicited not only by a single massive irritant exposure, but also by low/moderate repeated irritant exposures.

MUC5AC expression is increased in bronchial submucosal glands of stable COPD patients.

AIMS: Mucus expectoration is a common feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MUC5AC and MUC5B, the major mucins, are released predominantly from submucosal glands in the central airways. The aim was to investigate gland size and MUC5AC and MUC5B expression in bronchial rings from smokers with COPD compared with control groups. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bronchial rings from 10 non-smoking subjects, 20 smokers with normal lung function and 20 smokers with COPD were studied. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue histochemistry and MUC5AC and MUC5B immunohistochemistry followed by quantification of the immunoreactive area was performed. The area occupied by MUC5AC+ cells in bronchial submucosal glands was increased in COPD [20% (5.5-31.7%) gland area] compared with smokers with normal lung function [9.5% (2.5-17.5%); P < 0.05] and non-smoking subjects [2% (0.4-6.2%); P < 0.05]. The area occupied by MUC5AC+ cells in the bronchial surface epithelium was also increased in smokers (with/without COPD) [73.5% (25-92%) epithelial area] compared with non-smoking subjects [15% (2.7-32%); P < 0.01]. Gland size, PAS, Alcian blue staining and MUC5B expression were not significantly different among groups. MUC5AC expression correlated with the degree of airflow obstruction. MUC5AC and MUC5B expression correlated with pack-years. CONCLUSIONS: COPD is associated with increased MUC5AC expression in submucosal glands, indicating that MUC5AC may be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease.