Significant chronic airway abnormalities in never-smoking HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to describe chronic lung disease in HIV-infected never-smokers by looking at clinical, structural and functional abnormalities. METHODS: This comparative cross-sectional study included 159 HIV-infected never-smoking patients [mean (± standard deviation) age 54.6 ± 9.1 years; 13.2% female; 98.1% with undetectable viral load] and 75 nonmatched never-smoking controls [mean (± standard deviation) age 52.6 ± 6.9 years; 46.7% female]. We examined calcium scoring computer tomography (CT) scans or chest CT scans, all with a lung-dedicated algorithm reconstruction, to assess emphysema and airway disease (respiratory bronchiolitis and/or bronchial wall thickening), tested pulmonary function using spirometry, lung volumes and the diffusion lung capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO), and assessed respiratory symptoms using the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Assessment Test (CAT). RESULTS: Twenty-five (17.2%) of the HIV-infected patients versus two (2.7%) of the controls had a CAT score > 10. Only 5% of the HIV-infected patients showed FEV1% < 80%, and 25% had DLCO < 75% of the predicted value. Based on the CT scans, they had increased prevalences, compared with the controls, of airway disease (37% versus 7.9%, respectively) and emphysema (18% versus 4%, respectively), with more severe and more frequent centrilobular disease. After correction for age, sex and clinical factors, HIV infection was significantly associated with CAT > 10 [odds ratio (OR) 7.7], emphysema (OR 4), airway disease (OR 4.5) and DLCO < 75% of predicted (OR 4). CONCLUSIONS: Although comparisons were limited by the different enrolment methods used for HIV-infected patients and controls, the results suggest that never-smoking HIV-infected patients may present with chronic lung damage characterized by CT evidence of airway disease. A minority of them showed respiratory symptoms, without significant functional abnormalities.

Erratum to: Scaling up strategies of the chronic respiratory disease programme of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (Action Plan B3: Area 5).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13601-016-0116-9.].

Scaling up strategies of the chronic respiratory disease programme of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (Action Plan B3: Area 5).

Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) focuses on the integrated care of chronic diseases. Area 5 (Care Pathways) was initiated using chronic respiratory diseases as a model. The chronic respiratory disease action plan includes (1) AIRWAYS integrated care pathways (ICPs), (2) the joint initiative between the Reference site MACVIA-LR (Contre les MAladies Chroniques pour un VIeillissement Actif) and ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma), (3) Commitments for Action to the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing and the AIRWAYS ICPs network. It is deployed in collaboration with the World Health Organization Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD). The European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing has proposed a 5-step framework for developing an individual scaling up strategy: (1) what to scale up: (1-a) databases of good practices, (1-b) assessment of viability of the scaling up of good practices, (1-c) classification of good practices for local replication and (2) how to scale up: (2-a) facilitating partnerships for scaling up, (2-b) implementation of key success factors and lessons learnt, including emerging technologies for individualised and predictive medicine. This strategy has already been applied to the chronic respiratory disease action plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing.

MACVIA-ARIA Sentinel NetworK for allergic rhinitis (MASK-rhinitis): the new generation guideline implementation.

Several unmet needs have been identified in allergic rhinitis: identification of the time of onset of the pollen season, optimal control of rhinitis and comorbidities, patient stratification, multidisciplinary team for integrated care pathways, innovation in clinical trials and, above all, patient empowerment. MASK-rhinitis (MACVIA-ARIA Sentinel NetworK for allergic rhinitis) is a simple system centred around the patient which was devised to fill many of these gaps using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools and a clinical decision support system (CDSS) based on the most widely used guideline in allergic rhinitis and its asthma comorbidity (ARIA 2015 revision). It is one of the implementation systems of Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA). Three tools are used for the electronic monitoring of allergic diseases: a cell phone-based daily visual analogue scale (VAS) assessment of disease control, CARAT (Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test) and e-Allergy screening (premedical system of early diagnosis of allergy and asthma based on online tools). These tools are combined with a clinical decision support system (CDSS) and are available in many languages. An e-CRF and an e-learning tool complete MASK. MASK is flexible and other tools can be added. It appears to be an advanced, global and integrated ICT answer for many unmet needs in allergic diseases which will improve policies and standards.

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA): achievements in 10 years and future needs.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma represent global health problems for all age groups. Asthma and rhinitis frequently coexist in the same subjects. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) was initiated during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999 (published in 2001). ARIA has reclassified AR as mild/moderate-severe and intermittent/persistent. This classification closely reflects patients' needs and underlines the close relationship between rhinitis and asthma. Patients, clinicians, and other health care professionals are confronted with various treatment choices for the management of AR. This contributes to considerable variation in clinical practice, and worldwide, patients, clinicians, and other health care professionals are faced with uncertainty about the relative merits and downsides of the various treatment options. In its 2010 Revision, ARIA developed clinical practice guidelines for the management of AR and asthma comorbidities based on the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. ARIA is disseminated and implemented in more than 50 countries of the world. Ten years after the publication of the ARIA World Health Organization workshop report, it is important to make a summary of its achievements and identify the still unmet clinical, research, and implementation needs to strengthen the 2011 European Union Priority on allergy and asthma in children.

Severe chronic allergic (and related) diseases: a uniform approach--a MeDALL--GA2LEN--ARIA position paper.

Concepts of disease severity, activity, control and responsiveness to treatment are linked but different. Severity refers to the loss of function of the organs induced by the disease process or to the occurrence of severe acute exacerbations. Severity may vary over time and needs regular follow-up. Control is the degree to which therapy goals are currently met. These concepts have evolved over time for asthma in guidelines, task forces or consensus meetings. The aim of this paper is to generalize the approach of the uniform definition of severe asthma presented to WHO for chronic allergic and associated diseases (rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, chronic urticaria and atopic dermatitis) in order to have a uniform definition of severity, control and risk, usable in most situations. It is based on the appropriate diagnosis, availability and accessibility of treatments, treatment responsiveness and associated factors such as comorbidities and risk factors. This uniform definition will allow a better definition of the phenotypes of severe allergic (and related) diseases for clinical practice, research (including epidemiology), public health purposes, education and the discovery of novel therapies.

Polymorphisms in IL13 pathway genes in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are chronic respiratory diseases involving an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Interleukin-13 (IL13) has been suggested to have a role in both asthma and COPD. We investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL13 pathway may contribute to the susceptibility and severity of asthma and COPD in adults. METHODS: Twelve SNPs in IL13 pathway genes -IL4, IL13, IL4RA, IL13RA1, IL13RA2 and STAT6- were genotyped in subjects with asthma (n = 299) and in subjects with COPD or healthy smokers (n = 992). Genetic association was evaluated using genotype and allele models for asthma severity, atopy phenotypes and COPD susceptibility. Linear regression was used to determine the effects of polymorphism on baseline lung function (FEV(1), FEV(1)/FVC). RESULTS: In asthmatics, three IL13 SNPs - rs1881457(-1512), rs1800925(-1111) and rs20541(R130Q) - were associated with atopy risk. One SNP in IL4RA1 [rs1805010(I75V)] was associated with asthma severity, and several IL13 SNPs showed borderline significance. IL13 SNPs rs1881457(-1512) and rs1800925(-1111) were associated with better FEV(1) and FEV(1)/FVC in asthmatics. IL13 SNPs rs2066960(intron 1), rs20541(R130Q) and rs1295685(exon 4) were associated with COPD risk and lower baseline lung function in the recessive model. In females, but not in males, rs2250747 of the IL13RA1 gene was associated with COPD and lower FEV(1). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that IL13 SNPs (promoter and coding region) and, to a lesser extent, IL4RA SNPs may contribute to atopy and asthma. We also provide tentative evidence that IL13 SNPs in the coding region may be of significance in COPD susceptibility.

Complex chronic comorbidities of COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is defined by fixed airflow limitation associated with an abnormal pulmonary and systemic inflammatory response of the lungs to cigarette smoke. The systemic inflammation induced by smoking may also cause chronic heart failure, metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases, which may contribute to the clinical manifestations and natural history of COPD. Thus COPD can no longer be considered a disease only of the lungs, as it is often associated with a wide variety of systemic consequences. A better understanding of the origin and consequences of systemic inflammation, and of potential therapies, will most likely lead to better care of patients with COPD. Medical textbooks and clinical guidelines still largely ignore the fact that COPD seldom occurs in isolation. As the diagnosis and assessment of severity of COPD may be greatly affected by the presence of comorbid conditions, the current authors believe that lung function measurement, noninvasive assessment of cardiovascular and metabolic functions, and circulating inflammatory markers (e.g. C-reactive protein) might help to better characterise these patients. Similarly, preventive and therapeutic interventions should address the patient in their complexity.

The cysteinyl-leukotriene type 1 receptor polymorphism 927T/C is associated with atopy severity but not with asthma.

BACKGROUND: The cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor type 1 (CysLT1) mediates the bronchoconstrictor and pro-inflammatory actions of cysteinyl-leukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4, LTE4) in asthma and is the molecular target of the lukast class of oral anti-leukotriene drugs. We screened the CYSLTR1 gene on chromosome Xq13-21 for coding region polymorphisms, and investigated their associations with allergy and asthma. METHODS: Solid-phase chemical cleavage was used to screen polymorphisms in the coding region of CYSLTR1. A TaqMan allelic discrimination assay was used to genotype a 927T/C SNP and oligonucleotide ligation assays were used to genotype the previously reported 617T/C and 898G/A SNPs of CYSLTR1 in 341 asthmatic families from the UK. Associations with asthma diagnosis, atopic status, serum-specific IgE and severity of allergy and asthma were examined. RESULTS: Family-based association tests showed that the 927 T allele was associated with atopy severity, especially in female subjects, but not with asthma diagnosis or severity, atopic status, bronchial hyper-responsiveness to methacholine or forced expiratory volume in 1 s. CONCLUSION: Mutation screening identified only one polymorphism, 927T/C, in the coding region of the CysLT1 receptor. This polymorphsim is predictive of atopy severity, but not associated with asthma.

Transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor in pulmonary arteries of patients with very severe COPD.

A mild-to-moderate increase in pulmonary arterial pressure is often associated with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta is a cytokine involved in the maintenance of integrity of vasculature. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the TGF-beta pathway might be involved in the development of pulmonary hypertension associated with COPD. Surgical specimens from 14 patients undergoing lung transplantation for very severe COPD (forced expiratory volume in one second 17 +/- 2% of the predicted value) and from seven donors were examined. The expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta type II receptor (TGF-betaRII), cell proliferation index and structural changes in pulmonary arteries were quantified immunohistochemically. In severe COPD patients, increased expression of TGF-betaRII was observed in both the tunica media and intima, which was associated with a normal proliferation index in both layers. Conversely, significant thickening of the tunica intima, which was not present in the tunica media, was observed, suggesting that mechanisms other than cell proliferation may be involved in intimal thickening. In conclusion, in the pulmonary arteries of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, there is upregulation of transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor expression associated with a normal proliferation index. These findings suggest the activation of an antiproliferative pathway, which might explain the relatively low degree of pulmonary hypertension observed in these subjects.

Decreased expression of TGF-beta type II receptor in bronchial glands of smokers with COPD.

BACKGROUND: The role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is still controversial, but it has been proposed that it may protect from mucus hypersecretion since it is able to downregulate mucin production. A study was undertaken to investigate the expression of TGF-beta1 and its type II receptor (TGF-beta RII) in the bronchial glands of smokers with COPD. METHODS: The expression of TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta RII were examined immunohistochemically in the bronchial glands of 24 smokers undergoing lung resection for solitary peripheral nodules: 12 with airflow limitation (smokers with COPD) and 12 with normal lung function. RESULTS: The expression of TGF-beta1 in bronchial glands was similar in the two groups of subjects while that of TGF-beta RII was lower in smokers with COPD than in smokers with normal lung function (p=0.004). TGF-beta RII expression was inversely correlated with the values of Reid's index, a measure of gland size (p=0.02, r=-0.50). CONCLUSIONS: In the bronchial glands of smokers with COPD there is decreased expression of TGF-beta RII which is associated with bronchial gland enlargement. These findings support the view that the absence of TGF-beta signalling may induce structural changes in the bronchial glands which, in turn, may promote mucus hypersecretion.

Corticosteroid and immunomodulatory agents in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive pulmonary disease leading to death within a few years of diagnosis despite medical therapy. On the basis of methodologies of the Cochrane collaboration, this overview discusses the evidence for IPF therapy. Good-quality studies on oral corticosteroids, the most common medical therapy in use for IPF, are lacking. A few small studies have been carried out on the efficacy of many non-steroid immunosuppressive agents, and the results have been generally disappointing. The most extensively studied medical therapy, gamma interferon, showed a significant effect in a small randomized study, but its efficacy was not confirmed in a larger randomized-controlled trial. The long-awaited good news for patients affected by this deadly disease, and for their physicians, could come in the near future from large randomized-controlled trials with gamma interferon or other immunomodulatory agents.

Neutrophilic infiltration within the airway smooth muscle in patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND: COPD is an inflammatory disorder characterised by chronic airflow limitation, but the extent to which airway inflammation is related to functional abnormalities is still uncertain. The interaction between inflammatory cells and airway smooth muscle may have a crucial role. METHODS: To investigate the microlocalisation of inflammatory cells within the airway smooth muscle in COPD, surgical specimens obtained from 26 subjects undergoing thoracotomy (eight smokers with COPD, 10 smokers with normal lung function, and eight non-smoking controls) were examined. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to quantify the number of neutrophils, macrophages, mast cells, CD4+ and CD8+ cells localised within the smooth muscle of peripheral airways. RESULTS: Smokers with COPD had an increased number of neutrophils and CD8+ cells in the airway smooth muscle compared with non-smokers. Smokers with normal lung function also had a neutrophilic infiltration in the airway smooth muscle, but to a lesser extent. When all the subjects were analysed as one group, neutrophilic infiltration was inversely related to forced expiratory volume in 1 second (% predicted). CONCLUSIONS: Microlocalisation of neutrophils and CD8+ cells in the airway smooth muscle in smokers with COPD suggests a possible role for these cells in the pathogenesis of smoking induced airflow limitation.

Lack of association of HLA class I genes and TNF alpha-308 polymorphism in toluene diisocyanate-induced asthma.

BACKGROUND: Toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced asthma is a common cause of occupational asthma and it affects 5-15% of the exposed population suggesting an underlying genetic susceptibility. METHODS: To investigate the role of genetic factors in the development of TDI-induced asthma, we analyzed the distribution of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I genes and of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha A-308G polymorphism in 142 patients with TDI-induced asthma and in 50 asymptomatic exposed subjects. RESULTS: Neither the distribution of HLA class I antigens nor the distribution of TNF-alpha A-308G polymorphism was different between patients with TDI-induced asthma and asymptomatic exposed subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that HLA class I antigens and TNF-alpha A-308G are not associated with susceptibility or resistance to the development of TDI-induced asthma.

Promoter polymorphism in the 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) and 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (ALOX5AP) genes and asthma susceptibility in a Caucasian population.

BACKGROUND: 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) and 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) are essential for cysteinyl-leukotriene (cys-LT) production, critical mediators in asthma. OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify novel promoter polymorphisms within the FLAP (ALOX5AP) gene promoter and test the role of these and the previously identified 5-LO (ALOX5) Sp1 promoter polymorphism in asthma susceptibility. METHODS: To assess genetic association with asthma phenotypes, we genotyped 341 Caucasian families (containing two asthmatic siblings) and non-asthmatic control subjects (n=184). Genetic association was determined by case-control and transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) analyses. To determine the functional role of polymorphisms on basal transcription, we generated ALOX5AP-promoter-luciferase constructs and transiently transfected human HeLa cells. RESULTS: A novel G/A substitution at -336 bp and a poly(A) repeat (n=19 or 23) at position -169 to -146 bp were identified in the ALOX5AP promoter. Genotyping found the -336 A and poly(A19) alleles at frequencies of q=0.06 and 0.12, respectively. No ALOX5AP allele was associated with asthma or asthma-related phenotypes in case-control or TDT analyses. ALOX5AP-promoter-luciferase analyses did not support a functional role of the -336 or poly(A) polymorphism in determining basal transcription. The ALOX5 Sp1 polymorphism was predominantly homozygous wild-type 5/5 (frequency q=0.70) and heterozygous 4/5 (q=0.23) genotypes and no allele was associated with asthma or asthma-related phenotypes. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these data do not support a significant role for these polymorphisms in genetic susceptibility to asthma in the Caucasian population.

Polymorphisms in the interleukin-4 and interleukin-4 receptor alpha chain genes confer susceptibility to asthma and atopy in a Caucasian population.

BACKGROUND: IL-4 by binding to its receptor (IL-4R) is essential for the development of airway inflammation present in asthma, through the induction of IgE synthesis in B cells and differentiation of T cells to a Th2 phenotype. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of four common polymorphisms in the IL-4 (IL4-34CT and IL4-589CT) and IL-4Ralpha chain (IL4RAI50V and IL4RAQ576R) genes in conferring susceptibility to the development of atopy and/or asthma. METHODS: Two polymorphisms in the IL-4 gene promoter, IL4-34CT and IL4-589CT, and two polymorphisms in the IL-4Ralpha chain gene, IL4RAI50V and IL4RAQ576R, have been genotyped using PCR-based methods in 341 asthmatic families and in 184 non-asthmatic adults recruited from the south of England. RESULTS: Case-control analysis did not reveal differences in the distribution of the four polymorphisms between asthmatics and controls. However, the transmission disequilibrium test showed that the IL4-589 T allele was preferentially transmitted to asthmatic children (P=0.036) and that the IL4RAQ576 was preferentially transmitted to children with atopic asthma (P=0.018). Haplotype analysis showed a strong association between the IL4-34T/-589T haplotype and asthma per se (P=0.041), and a strong association between the IL4RA I50/Q576 haplotype and atopic asthma (P=0.006). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that polymorphisms in the IL-4 and IL-4Ralpha chain genes might play a role both conferring susceptibility to and modulating severity of atopy and asthma.

Allelic association and functional studies of promoter polymorphism in the leukotriene C4 synthase gene (LTC4S) in asthma.

BACKGROUND: LTC4 synthase is essential for the production of cysteinyl leukotrienes (Cys-LT), critical mediators in asthma. We have identified a novel promoter polymorphism at position -1072 (G/A) and a -444 (A/C) polymorphism has previously been reported. The role of these polymorphisms in the genetic susceptibility to asthma was examined. METHODS: To test for genetic association with asthma phenotypes, 341 white families (two asthmatic siblings) and 184 non-asthmatic control subjects were genotyped. Genetic association was assessed using case control and transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) analyses. LTC4S promoter luciferase constructs and transiently transfected human HeLa and KU812F cells were generated to determine the functional role of these polymorphisms on basal transcription. RESULTS: No associations were observed in case control analyses (-1072 A, q=0.09; -444 C, q=0.29); the TDT identified a borderline association between the -444 C allele and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine (p=0.065). Asthmatic children with the -444 C allele had a lower mean basal forced expiratory volume in 1 second (97.4 v 92.7% predicted, p=0.005). LTC4S promoter luciferase analyses provided no evidence for a functional role of either polymorphism in determining basal transcription. CONCLUSION: This study does not support a role for these polymorphisms in genetic susceptibility to asthma but provides evidence to suggest a role in determining lung function parameters.

Linkage analysis of the 5q31-33 candidate region for asthma in 240 UK families.

Atopy and asthma are complex genetic diseases resulting from the interactions of a number of genetic and environmental factors. We had previously reported allelic association between the IL9 marker on chromosome 5q31-33 and atopy. In order to further investigate the role of susceptibility genes on 5q31-33 in the development of atopy and asthma we have studied 240 UK families comprising 131 families selected at random, 60 multiplex families with affected sib pairs, and 49 single proband nuclear families. Polymorphic markers on 5q31-33 were genotyped and both single and multipoint linkage analysis was undertaken using the BETA program. We have used both affection status and quantitative scores for atopy and asthma for phenotypic variables, combining data into scores for asthma and atopy. The strongest suggestion of linkage using multipoint analysis was centred around D5S410 with a maximum Lod of 1.946 at location 171.3 cM and a standard error of 3.3 for the asthma quantitative score. There was no evidence of linkage with atopy, the atopy quantitative score or total serum IgE.