Swarm Learning for decentralized and confidential clinical machine learning.

Fast and reliable detection of patients with severe and heterogeneous illnesses is a major goal of precision medicine1,2. Patients with leukaemia can be identified using machine learning on the basis of their blood transcriptomes3. However, there is an increasing divide between what is technically possible and what is allowed, because of privacy legislation4,5. Here, to facilitate the integration of any medical data from any data owner worldwide without violating privacy laws, we introduce Swarm Learning-a decentralized machine-learning approach that unites edge computing, blockchain-based peer-to-peer networking and coordination while maintaining confidentiality without the need for a central coordinator, thereby going beyond federated learning. To illustrate the feasibility of using Swarm Learning to develop disease classifiers using distributed data, we chose four use cases of heterogeneous diseases (COVID-19, tuberculosis, leukaemia and lung pathologies). With more than 16,400 blood transcriptomes derived from 127 clinical studies with non-uniform distributions of cases and controls and substantial study biases, as well as more than 95,000 chest X-ray images, we show that Swarm Learning classifiers outperform those developed at individual sites. In addition, Swarm Learning completely fulfils local confidentiality regulations by design. We believe that this approach will notably accelerate the introduction of precision medicine.

Mutual Regulation of Transcriptomes between Murine Pneumocytes and Fibroblasts Mediates Alveolar Regeneration in Air-Liquid Interface Cultures.

Alveolar type 2 and club cells are part of the stem cell niche of the lung and their differentiation is required for pulmonary homeostasis and tissue regeneration. A disturbed crosstalk between fibroblasts and epithelial cells contributes to the loss of lung structure in chronic lung diseases. Therefore, it is important to understand how fibroblasts and lung epithelial cells interact during regeneration. Here, we analyzed the interaction of fibroblasts and the alveolar epithelium modeled in air-liquid interface cultures. Single-cell transcriptomics showed that cocultivation with fibroblasts leads to increased expression of type 2 markers in pneumocytes, activation of regulons associated with the maintenance of alveolar type 2 cells (e.g., Etv5), and transdifferentiation of club cells toward pneumocytes. This was accompanied by an intensified transepithelial barrier. Vice versa, the activation of NF-κB pathways and the CEBPB regulon and the expression of IL-6 and other differentiation factors (e.g., fibroblast growth factors) were increased in fibroblasts cocultured with epithelial cells. Recombinant IL-6 enhanced epithelial barrier formation. Therefore, in our coculture model, regulatory loops were identified by which lung epithelial cells mediate regeneration and differentiation of the alveolar epithelium in a cooperative manner with the mesenchymal compartment.

Biochemical and transcriptomic evaluation of a 3D lung organoid platform for pre-clinical testing of active substances targeting senescence.

Chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis are incurable. Epithelial senescence, a state of dysfunctional cell cycle arrest, contributes to the progression of such diseases. Therefore, lung epithelial cells are a valuable target for therapeutic intervention. Here, we present a 3D airway lung organoid platform for the preclinical testing of active substances with regard to senescence, toxicity, and inflammation under standardized conditions in a 96 well format. Senescence was induced with doxorubicin and measured by activity of senescence associated galactosidase. Pharmaceutical compounds such as quercetin antagonized doxorubicin-induced senescence without compromising organoid integrity. Using single cell sequencing, we identified a subset of cells expressing senescence markers which was decreased by quercetin. Doxorubicin induced the expression of detoxification factors specifically in goblet cells independent of quercetin. In conclusion, our platform enables for the analysis of senescence-related processes and will allow the pre-selection of a wide range of compounds (e.g. natural products) in preclinical studies, thus reducing the need for animal testing.

Midregional Proatrial Natriuretic Peptide (MRproANP) is associated with vertebral fractures and low bone density in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

BACKGROUND: Patients with COPD are often affected by loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporotic fractures. Natriuretic peptides (NP) are known as cardiac markers, but have also been linked to fragility-associated fractures in the elderly. As their functions include regulation of fluid and mineral balance, they also might affect bone metabolism, particularly in systemic disorders such as COPD. RESEARCH QUESTION: We investigated the association between NP serum levels, vertebral fractures and BMD assessed by chest computed tomography (CT) in patients with COPD. METHODS: Participants of the COSYCONET cohort with CT scans were included. Mean vertebral bone density on CT (BMD-CT) as a risk factor for osteoporosis was assessed at the level of TH12 (AI-Rad Companion), and vertebral compression fractures were visually quantified by two readers. Their relationship with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), Mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MRproANP) and Midregional pro-adrenomedullin (MRproADM) was determined using group comparisons and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Among 418 participants (58% male, median age 64 years, FEV1 59.6% predicted), vertebral fractures in TH12 were found in 76 patients (18.1%). Compared to patients without fractures, these had elevated serum levels (p ≤ 0.005) of MRproANP and MRproADM. Using optimal cut-off values in multiple logistic regression analyses, MRproANP levels ≥ 65 nmol/l (OR 2.34; p = 0.011) and age (p = 0.009) were the only significant predictors of fractures after adjustment for sex, BMI, smoking status, FEV1% predicted, SGRQ Activity score, daily physical activity, oral corticosteroids, the diagnosis of cardiac disease, and renal impairment. Correspondingly, MRproANP (p < 0.001), age (p = 0.055), SGRQ Activity score (p = 0.061) and active smoking (p = 0.025) were associated with TH12 vertebral density. INTERPRETATION: MRproANP was a marker for osteoporotic vertebral fractures in our COPD patients from the COSYCONET cohort. Its association with reduced vertebral BMD on CT and its known modulating effects on fluid and ion balance are suggestive of direct effects on bone mineralization. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01245933, Date of registration: 18 November 2010.

TAp73 is a central transcriptional regulator of airway multiciliogenesis.

Motile multiciliated cells (MCCs) have critical roles in respiratory health and disease and are essential for cleaning inhaled pollutants and pathogens from airways. Despite their significance for human disease, the transcriptional control that governs multiciliogenesis remains poorly understood. Here we identify TP73, a p53 homolog, as governing the program for airway multiciliogenesis. Mice with TP73 deficiency suffer from chronic respiratory tract infections due to profound defects in ciliogenesis and complete loss of mucociliary clearance. Organotypic airway cultures pinpoint TAp73 as necessary and sufficient for basal body docking, axonemal extension, and motility during the differentiation of MCC progenitors. Mechanistically, cross-species genomic analyses and complete ciliary rescue of knockout MCCs identify TAp73 as the conserved central transcriptional integrator of multiciliogenesis. TAp73 directly activates the key regulators FoxJ1, Rfx2, Rfx3, and miR34bc plus nearly 50 structural and functional ciliary genes, some of which are associated with human ciliopathies. Our results position TAp73 as a novel central regulator of MCC differentiation.

IgE is associated with exacerbations and lung function decline in COPD.

BACKGROUND: Both allergen-specific IgE and total IgE in serum play a major role in asthma. However, the role of IgE in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is poorly understood. It was the aim of this study to systematically analyze the relationship between serum IgE levels and disease characteristics in large COPD cohorts. METHODS: COSYCONET is a comprehensively characterized cohort of patients with COPD: total IgE and IgE specific to common aeroallergens were measured in serum of 2280 patients, and related to clinical characteristics of the patients. WISDOM is another large COPD population (2477 patients): this database contains the information whether total IgE in serum was elevated (≥ 100 IU/l) or normal in patients with COPD. RESULTS: Both in COSYCONET and WISDOM, total IgE was elevated (≥ 100 IU/l) in > 30% of the patients, higher in men than in women, and higher in currently than in not currently smoking men. In COSYCONET, total IgE was elevated in patients with a history of asthma and/or allergies. Men with at least one exacerbation in the last 12 months (50.6% of all men in COSYCONET) had higher median total IgE (71.3 IU/l) than men without exacerbations (48.3 IU/l): this difference was also observed in the subgroups of not currently smoking men and of men without a history of asthma. Surprisingly, a history of exacerbations did not impact on total IgE in women with COPD. Patients in the highest tertiles of total IgE (> 91.5 IU/ml, adjusted OR: 1.62, 95% CI 1.12-2.34) or allergen-specific IgE (> 0.19 IU/ml, adjusted OR: 2.15, 95% CI 1.32-3.51) were at risk of lung function decline (adjusted by: age, gender, body mass index, initial lung function, smoking status, history of asthma, history of allergy). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that IgE may play a role in specific COPD subgroups. Clinical trials using antibodies targeting the IgE pathway (such as omalizumab), especially in men with recurrent exacerbations and elevated serum IgE, could elucidate potential therapeutic implications of our observations.

miR449 Protects Airway Regeneration by Controlling AURKA/HDAC6-Mediated Ciliary Disassembly.

Airway mucociliary regeneration and function are key players for airway defense and are impaired in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Using transcriptome analysis in COPD-derived bronchial biopsies, we observed a positive correlation between cilia-related genes and microRNA-449 (miR449). In vitro, miR449 was strongly increased during airway epithelial mucociliary differentiation. In vivo, miR449 was upregulated during recovery from chemical or infective insults. miR0449-/- mice (both alleles are deleted) showed impaired ciliated epithelial regeneration after naphthalene and Haemophilus influenzae exposure, accompanied by more intense inflammation and emphysematous manifestations of COPD. The latter occurred spontaneously in aged miR449-/- mice. We identified Aurora kinase A and its effector target HDAC6 as key mediators in miR449-regulated ciliary homeostasis and epithelial regeneration. Aurora kinase A is downregulated upon miR449 overexpression in vitro and upregulated in miR449-/- mouse lungs. Accordingly, imaging studies showed profoundly altered cilia length and morphology accompanied by reduced mucociliary clearance. Pharmacological inhibition of HDAC6 rescued cilia length and coverage in miR449-/- cells, consistent with its tubulin-deacetylating function. Altogether, our study establishes a link between miR449, ciliary dysfunction, and COPD pathogenesis.

Blockade of PD-1 decreases neutrophilic inflammation and lung damage in experimental COPD.

Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and lung cancer are both caused by smoking and often occur as comorbidity. The programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) axis is an important canonic immunoregulatory pathway, and antibodies that specifically block PD-1 or PD-L1 have demonstrated efficacy as therapeutic agents for non-small cell lung cancer. The role of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in the pathogenesis of COPD is unknown. Here, we analyzed the function of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in preclinical COPD models and evaluated the concentrations of PD-1 and PD-L1 in human serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids as biomarkers for COPD. Anti-PD-1 treatment decreased lung damage and neutrophilic inflammation in mice chronically exposed to cigarette smoke (CS) or nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). Ex vivo stimulated macrophages obtained from anti-PD-1-treated mice released reduced amounts of inflammatory cytokines. PD-L1 concentrations correlated positively with PD-1 concentrations in human serum and BAL fluids. Lung sections obtained from patients with COPD stained positive for PD-L1. Our data indicate that the PD-1/PD-L1 axis is involved in developing inflammation and tissue destruction in COPD. Inflammation-induced activation of the PD-1 pathway may contribute to disease progression.

Measurement of urinary Dickkopf-3 uncovered silent progressive kidney injury in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a global public health problem with high disease related morbidity and mortality. Since CKD etiology is heterogeneous, early recognition of patients at risk for progressive kidney injury is important. Here, we evaluated the tubular epithelial derived glycoprotein dickkopf-3 (DKK3) as a urinary marker for the identification of progressive kidney injury in a non-CKD cohort of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in an experimental model. In COSYCONET, a prospective multicenter trial comprising 2,314 patients with stable COPD (follow-up 37.1 months), baseline urinary DKK3, proteinuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were tested for their association with the risk of declining eGFR and the COPD marker, forced expiratory volume in one second. Baseline urinary DKK3 but not proteinuria or eGFR identified patients with a significantly higher risk for over a 10% (odds ratio: 1.54, 95% confidence interval: 1.13-2.08) and over a 20% (2.59: 1.28-5.25) decline of eGFR during follow-up. In particular, DKK3 was associated with a significantly higher risk for declining eGFR in patients with eGFR over 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and proteinuria under 30 mg/g. DKK3 was also associated with declining COPD marker (2.90: 1.70-4.68). The impact of DKK3 was further explored in wild-type and Dkk3-/- mice subjected to cigarette smoke-induced lung injury combined with a CKD model. In this model, genetic abrogation of DKK3 resulted in reduced pulmonary inflammation and preserved kidney function. Thus, our data highlight urinary DKK3 as a possible marker for early identification of patients with silent progressive CKD and for adverse outcomes in patients with COPD.

The glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper mediates statin-induced muscle damage.

Statins, the most prescribed class of drugs for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, can cause muscle-related adverse effects. It has been shown that the glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) plays a key role in the anti-myogenic action of dexamethasone. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the role of GILZ in statin-induced myopathy. Statins induced GILZ expression in C2C12 cells, primary murine myoblasts/myotubes, primary human myoblasts, and in vivo in zebrafish embryos and human quadriceps femoris muscle. Gilz induction was mediated by FOXO3 activation and binding to the Gilz promoter, and could be reversed by the addition of geranylgeranyl, but not farnesyl, pyrophosphate. Atorvastatin decreased Akt phosphorylation and increased cleaved caspase-3 levels in myoblasts. This effect was reversed in myoblasts from GILZ knockout mice. Similarly, myofibers isolated from knockout animals were more resistant toward statin-induced cell death than their wild-type counterparts. Statins also impaired myoblast differentiation, and this effect was accompanied by GILZ induction. The in vivo relevance of our findings was supported by the observation that gilz overexpression in zebrafish embryos led to impaired embryonic muscle development. Taken together, our data point toward GILZ as an essential mediator of the molecular mechanisms leading to statin-induced muscle damage.

High-sensitivity troponin I and all-cause mortality in patients with stable COPD: an analysis of the COSYCONET study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death with a considerable part of the population dying from cardiovascular diseases. High-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) might help to better identify COPD patients at high risk of mortality. We aimed to study the predictive value of hs-TnI for all-cause mortality beyond established COPD assessments, and after consideration of relevant cardiovascular risk factors and prevalent cardiovascular diseases, in a broad population with stable COPD.Circulating hs-TnI concentrations together with a wide range of respiratory and cardiovascular markers were evaluated in 2085 patients with stable COPD across all severity stages enrolled in the multicentre COSYCONET cohort study. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality over 3 years of follow-up.Hs-TnI was detectable in 2020 (96.9%) patients. The median hs-TnI concentration was 3.8 ng·L-1 (interquartile range 2.5-6.6 ng·L-1), with levels above the 99th percentile reference limit of 27 ng·L-1 observed in 1.8% of patients. In Cox regression analyses including adjustments for airflow limitation, dyspnoea grade, exercise capacity and history of severe exacerbations, as well as traditional cardiovascular risk factors, estimated glomerular filtration rate, ankle-brachial index, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptides and prevalent cardiovascular diseases, hs-TnI was a significant predictor for all-cause mortality, both as a continuous variable (hazard ratio (HR) for log hs-TnI 1.28, 95% CI 1.01-1.62) and categorised according to the cut-off of 6 ng·L-1 (HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.10-2.42).In patients with stable COPD, hs-TnI is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality beyond established COPD mortality predictors, and independent of a broad range of cardiovascular risk factors and prevalent cardiovascular diseases. Hs-TnI concentrations well below the upper reference limit provide further prognostic value for all patients with COPD when added to established risk assessments.

The IL-17 receptor IL-17RE mediates polyIC-induced exacerbation of experimental allergic asthma.

BACKGROUND: The interleukin 17 receptor E (IL-17RE) is specific for the epithelial cytokine interleukin-17C (IL-17C). Asthma exacerbations are frequently caused by viral infections. Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (pIC) mimics viral infections through binding to pattern recognition receptors (e.g. TLR-3). We and others have shown that pIC induces the expression of IL-17C in airway epithelial cells. Using different mouse models, we aimed to investigate the function of IL-17RE in the development of experimental allergic asthma and acute exacerbation thereof. METHODS: Wild-type (WT) and IL-17RE deficient (Il-17re-/-) mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA to induce allergic airway inflammation. pIC or PBS were applied intranasally when allergic airway inflammation had been established. Pulmonary expression of inflammatory mediators, numbers of inflammatory cells, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) were analyzed. RESULTS: Ablation of IL-17RE did not affect the development of OVA-induced allergic airway inflammation and AHR. pIC induced inflammation independent of IL-17RE in the absence of allergic airway inflammation. Treatment of mice with pIC exacerbated pulmonary inflammation in sensitized and OVA-challenged mice in an IL-17RE-dependent manner. The pIC-induced expression of cytokines (e.g. keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)) and recruitment of neutrophils were decreased in Il-17re-/- mice. pIC-exacerbated AHR was partially decreased in Il-17re-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that IL-17RE mediates virus-triggered exacerbations but does not have a function in the development of allergic lung disease.

Cigarette smoke and electronic cigarettes differentially activate bronchial epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: The use of electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) is increasing, but the impact of ECIG-vapor on cellular processes like inflammation or host defense are less understood. The aim of the present study was to compare the acute effects of traditional cigarettes (TCIGs) and ECIG-exposure on host defense, inflammation, and cellular activation of cell lines and primary differentiated human airway epithelial cells (pHBE). METHODS: We exposed pHBEs and several cell lines to TCIG-smoke or ECIG-vapor. Epithelial host defense and barrier integrity were determined. The transcriptome of airway epithelial cells was compared by gene expression array analysis. Gene interaction networks were constructed and differential gene expression over all groups analyzed. The expression of several candidate genes was validated by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Bacterial killing, barrier integrity and the expression of antimicrobial peptides were not affected by ECIG-vapor compared to control samples. In contrast, TCIGs negatively affected host defense and reduced barrier integrity in a significant way. Furthermore ECIG-exposure significantly induced IL-8 secretion from Calu-3 cells but had no effect on NCI-H292 or primary cells. The gene expression based on array analysis distinguished TCIG-exposed cells from ECIG and room air-exposed samples. CONCLUSION: The transcriptome patterns of host defense and inflammatory genes are significantly distinct between ECIG-exposed and TCIG-treated cells. The overall effects of ECIGs on epithelial cells are less in comparison to TCIG, and ECIG-vapor does not affect host defense. Nevertheless, although acute exposure to ECIG-vapor induces inflammation, and the expression of S100 proteins, long term in vivo data is needed to evaluate the chronic effects of ECIG use.

Flagellin shifts 3D bronchospheres towards mucus hyperproduction.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with acute and chronic bacterial infections of the lung. Excessive differentiation of basal cells to mucus-producing goblet cells can result in mucus hyperproduction and loss of mucociliary clearance in the airways of CF and COPD patients. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) on the differentiation of human 3D bronchospheres. Primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) were differentiated to bronchospheres in the presence of bacterial flagellin and LPS and the synthetic Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands Pam3CSK4 (TLR-2) and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (pIC, TLR-3). Electron and fluorescence microscopy showed that the differentiation of bronchospheres associated with the formation of lumina and appearance of cilia within 30 days after seeding. Incubation with flagellin resulted in a decreased formation of lumina and loss of cilia formation. Incubation with Pam3CSK, pIC, and LPS did not significantly affect formation of lumina and ciliation. Mucus production was strongly increased in response to flagellin and, to a lesser degree, in response to Pam3CSK4. Our results indicate that bacterial factors, such as flagellin, drive the differentiation of the respiratory epithelium towards mucus hyperproduction.

Alternative Oxidase Attenuates Cigarette Smoke-induced Lung Dysfunction and Tissue Damage.

Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure is the predominant risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the third leading cause of death worldwide. We aimed to elucidate whether mitochondrial respiratory inhibition and oxidative stress are triggers in its etiology. In different models of CS exposure, we investigated the effect on lung remodeling and cell signaling of restoring mitochondrial respiratory electron flow using alternative oxidase (AOX), which bypasses the cytochrome segment of the respiratory chain. AOX attenuated CS-induced lung tissue destruction and loss of function in mice exposed chronically to CS for 9 months. It preserved the cell viability of isolated mouse embryonic fibroblasts treated with CS condensate, limited the induction of apoptosis, and decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast, the early-phase inflammatory response induced by acute CS exposure of mouse lung, i.e., infiltration by macrophages and neutrophils and adverse signaling, was unaffected. The use of AOX allowed us to obtain novel pathomechanistic insights into CS-induced cell damage, mitochondrial ROS production, and lung remodeling. Our findings implicate mitochondrial respiratory inhibition as a key pathogenic mechanism of CS toxicity in the lung. We propose AOX as a novel tool to study CS-related lung remodeling and potentially to counteract CS-induced ROS production and cell damage.

Interleukin 17 Receptor E (IL-17RE) and IL-17C Mediate the Recruitment of Neutrophils during Acute Streptococcus pneumoniae Pneumonia.

Neutrophils contribute to lung injury in acute pneumococcal pneumonia. The interleukin 17 receptor E (IL-17RE) is the functional receptor for the epithelial-derived cytokine IL-17C, which is known to mediate innate immune functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of IL-17RE/IL-17C to pulmonary inflammation in a mouse model of acute Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia. Numbers of neutrophils and the expression levels of the cytokine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were decreased in lungs of IL-17RE-deficient (Il-17re-/- ) mice infected with S. pneumoniae Numbers of alveolar macrophages rapidly declined in both wild-type (WT) and Il-17re-/- mice and recovered 72 h after infection. There were no clear differences in the elimination of bacteria and numbers of blood granulocytes between infected WT and Il-17re-/- mice. The fractions of granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMPs) were significantly reduced in infected Il-17re-/- mice. Numbers of neutrophils were significantly reduced in lungs of mice deficient for IL-17C 24 h after infection with S. pneumoniae These data indicate that the IL-17C/IL-17RE axis promotes the recruitment of neutrophils without affecting the recovery of alveolar macrophages in the acute phase of S. pneumoniae lung infection.

The composition of the pulmonary microbiota in sarcoidosis - an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unknown etiology. The disease mechanisms are largely speculative and may include the role microbial patterns that initiate and drive an underlying immune process. The aim of this study was to characterize the microbiota of the lung of patients with sarcoidosis and compare its composition and diversity with the results from patients with other interstitial lung disease (ILD) and historic healthy controls. METHODS: Patients (sarcoidosis, n = 31; interstitial lung disease, n = 19) were recruited within the PULMOHOM study, a prospective cohort study to characterize inflammatory processes in pulmonary diseases. Bronchoscopy of the middle lobe or the lingula was performed and the recovered fluid was immediately sent for analysis of the pulmonary microbiota by 16sRNA gene sequencing. Subsequent bioinformatic analysis was performed to compare the groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between patients with sarcoidosis or other ILDs with regard to microbiome composition and diversity. In addition, the abundance of the genera Atopobium, Fusobacterium, Mycobacterium or Propionibacterium were not different between the two groups. There were no gross differences to historical healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The analysis of the pulmonary microbiota based on 16sRNA gene sequencing did not show a significant dysbiosis in patients with sarcoidosis as compared to other ILD patients. These data do not exclude a microbiological component in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae-Promoted Proliferation of Kras-Induced Early Adenomatous Lesions Is Completely Dependent on Toll-Like Receptor Signaling.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a risk factor for lung cancer. COPD is characterized by chronic airway inflammation and lung infections. The airways of patients with COPD are frequently colonized with bacteria [eg, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi)] that cause pulmonary inflammation and exacerbations. Pulmonary adenocarcinomas are frequently associated with an activating mutation in the KRAS gene. We determined the function of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling on the progression of Kras-induced early adenomatous lesions in the lung. Wild-type (WT) mice and mice doubly deficient in Tlr-2 and -4 (Tlr2/4-/-), both with an oncogenic Kras allele in lung epithelium, were exposed to NTHi for 4 weeks. Exposure to NTHi resulted in increased tumor proliferation and growth in WT mice, but not in Tlr2/4-/- mice. Alveolar adenomatous hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma were significantly increased in WT mice compared with Tlr2/4-/- mice. The average size of tumors was significantly larger in WT mice, whereas there was no difference in the number of alveolar lesions between WT and Tlr2/4-/- mice. NTHi-induced pulmonary neutrophilic inflammation and tumor-associated neutrophils were reduced in Tlr2/4-/- mice. Thus, subsequent to a driver mutation, NTHi-induced inflammation promotes proliferation of early adenomatous lesions in a TLR-dependent manner.

Local Effects on Airway Inflammation and Systemic Uptake of 5 nm PEGylated and Citrated Gold Nanoparticles in Asthmatic Mice.

Nanotechnology is showing promise in many medical applications such as drug delivery and hyperthermia. Nanoparticles administered to the respiratory tract cause local reactions and cross the blood-air barrier, thereby providing a means for easy systemic administration but also a potential source of toxicity. Little is known about how these effects are influenced by preexisting airway diseases such as asthma. Here, BALB/c mice are treated according to the ovalbumin (OVA) asthma protocol to promote allergic airway inflammation. Dispersions of polyethylene-glycol-coated (PEGylated) and citrate/tannic-acid-coated (citrated) 5 nm gold nanoparticles are applied intranasally to asthma and control groups, and (i) airway resistance and (ii) local tissue effects are measured as primary endpoints. Further, nanoparticle uptake into extrapulmonary organs is quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The asthmatic precondition increases nanoparticle uptake. Moreover, systemic uptake is higher for PEGylated gold nanoparticles compared to citrated nanoparticles. Nanoparticles inhibit both inflammatory infiltrates and airway hyperreactivity, especially citrated gold nanoparticles. Although the antiinflammatory effects of gold nanoparticles might be of therapeutic benefit, systemic uptake and consequent adverse effects must be considered when designing and testing nanoparticle-based asthma therapies.

Allergic airway inflammation induces migration of mast cell populations into the mouse airway.

Mast cells (MCs) and airway nerves play an important role in allergic asthma. However, little is known about the MCs and their interaction with airway nerves during allergic airway inflammation. This study aims to investigate the distribution and proliferation of MC populations in different lung compartments, along with the association of mast cells with nerve endings, using a house dust mite (HDM) model for allergic airway inflammation. BALB/c mice were exposed to HDM extract intranasally (25 µg/50 µl) for 5 consecutive days a week over 7 weeks. Immunofluorescence and Edu stains were used to examine the colocalisation of MCs and nerves and the proliferation of MCs, respectively. HDM treatment caused an increased migration of MCs into bronchi, alveolar parenchyma and airway vessels. The proportions of tryptase-chymase expressing MC (MCTC) increased significantly in the bronchi and the alveolar parenchyma but not in the vascular tissues, by allergic airway inflammation. The association of MCs with nerves was found only in the bronchi and there were no changes in comparison of controls to HDM-treated animals. The present study shows a strong migration of tryptase expressing MC (MCT) and MCTC into the bronchi and the alveolar parenchyma, as well as of MCT in the vascular compartment under HDM treatment. This supports the hypothesis that these mast cell populations may contribute to allergic airway inflammation.