miR-338-3p blocks TGFß-induced myofibroblast differentiation through the induction of PTEN.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic interstitial lung disease. The pathogenesis of IPF is not completely understood. However, numerous genes are associated with the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis, indicating there is a significant genetic component to the pathogenesis of IPF. Epigenetic influences on the development of human disease, including pulmonary fibrosis, remain to be fully elucidated. In this paper, we identify miR-338-3p as a microRNA severely downregulated in the lungs of patients with pulmonary fibrosis and in experimental models of pulmonary fibrosis. Treatment of primary human lung fibroblasts with miR-338-3p inhibits myofibroblast differentiation and matrix protein production. Published and proposed targets of miR-338-3p such as TGFß receptor 1, MEK/ERK 1/2, Cdk4, and Cyclin D are also not responsible for the regulation of pulmonary fibroblast behavior by miR-338-3p. miR-338-3p inhibits myofibroblast differentiation by preventing TGFß-mediated downregulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a known antifibrotic mediator.

Nasopharyngeal viral PCR in immunosuppressed patients and its association with virus detection in bronchoalveolar lavage by PCR.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary infiltrates are common in immunosuppressed patients. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is often used to evaluate their aetiology. However, it may not always be easily performed. Thus, alternative diagnostic strategies may be needed. There is limited data on the correlation of nasopharyngeal (NP) respiratory viral panel (RVP)-PCR testing compared with BAL. We aimed to identify the predictive value of NP RVP-PCR samples compared with samples obtained from BAL in immunosuppressed patients with pulmonary infiltrates. METHODS: We conducted an observational retrospective study of immunosuppressed adults who underwent bronchoscopy in the Pulmonary Department at the University of Rochester Medical Center between January 2011 and June 2016. We compared the positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity, specificity and false negative rate of NP RVP-PCR and BAL RVP-PCR, as well as identified clinical predictors of positive viral BAL RVP-PCR. RESULTS: Eighty-nine immunosuppressed patients had both NP and bronchoalveolar RVP-PCR testing. Twenty-one patients had NP(+)BAL(+) RVP-PCR testing. Seven patients had false negative (NP(-)BAL(+)) RVP-PCR testing. Three patients had NP(+)BAL(-) RVP-PCR testing. The positive and negative predictive values of NP RVP-PCR testing were 88% and 89%, respectively. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and testing performed in the winter and spring months were significantly associated with positive BAL RVP-PCR (OR = 3.3 (1.19-9.12); OR = 4.62 (1.64-12.99), respectively). CONCLUSION: NP RVP-PCR testing has high concordance with testing performed on BAL samples. Repeat testing through BAL is beneficial when there is high concern for viral infection after initial NP RVP-PCR testing is negative.