scholarly journals Fibrocyte accumulation in bronchi: a cellular hallmark of COPD

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Dupin ◽  
Matthieu Thumerel ◽  
Elise Maurat ◽  
Florence Coste ◽  
Hugues Begueret ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundThe remodeling mechanism and cellular players causing persistent airflow limitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain largely elusive. We have recently demonstrated that circulating fibrocytes, a rare population of fibroblast-like cells produced by the bone marrow stroma, are increased in COPD patients during an exacerbation. It remains, however, unclear, whether fibrocytes are present in bronchial tissue of COPD patients.ObjectiveWe aimed to quantify fibrocytes density in bronchial specimens from both control subjects and COPD patients, and to define associations with clinical, functional and computed tomography relevant parameters.Methods17 COPD patients and 25 control subjects with normal lung function testing and no chronic symptoms, all of them requiring thoracic surgery, were recruited. LFT and CT-scan were performed before surgery. Using co-immunostaining and image analysis, we identify CD45+ FSP1+ cells as tissue fibrocytes and quantify their density in distal and proximal bronchial specimens from the whole series.ResultsHere, we demonstrate that fibrocytes are increased in both distal and proximal tissue specimens of COPD patients, compared to those of controls. The density of fibrocytes is negatively correlated with lung function parameters, such as FEV1 and FEV1/FVC, and positively with bronchial wall thickness assessed by CT scan. High density of distal bronchial fibrocytes predicts presence of COPD with a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 70%.ConclusionsOur results thus suggest that recruitment of fibrocytes in the bronchi may participate to lung function decline during COPD progression.Clinical ImplicationsHigh density of tissue fibrocytes is associated with a deteriorated lung function and an increase in airway wall thickness. A low density tissue fibrocytes virtually eliminates the presence of COPD.Capsule summaryBlood fibrocytes assessed during exacerbation is a predictor of mortality in COPD. This study shows an increase of bronchial fibrocytes, that is associated with lower lung function, increased bronchial thickness and air trapping in COPD.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yung-Che Chen ◽  
◽  
Ying-Huang Tsai ◽  
Chin-Chou Wang ◽  
Shih-Feng Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractWe hypothesized that epigenetics is a link between smoking/allergen exposures and the development of Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ACO). A total of 75 of 228 COPD patients were identified as ACO, which was independently associated with increased exacerbations. Microarray analysis identified 404 differentially methylated loci (DML) in ACO patients, and 6575 DML in those with rapid lung function decline in a discovery cohort. In the validation cohort, ACO patients had hypermethylated PDE9A (+ 30,088)/ZNF323 (− 296), and hypomethylated SEPT8 (− 47) genes as compared with either pure COPD patients or healthy non-smokers. Hypermethylated TIGIT (− 173) gene and hypomethylated CYSLTR1 (+ 348)/CCDC88C (+ 125,722)/ADORA2B (+ 1339) were associated with severe airflow limitation, while hypomethylated IFRD1 (− 515) gene with frequent exacerbation in all the COPD patients. Hypermethylated ZNF323 (− 296) / MPV17L (+ 194) and hypomethylated PTPRN2 (+ 10,000) genes were associated with rapid lung function decline. In vitro cigarette smoke extract and ovalbumin concurrent exposure resulted in specific DNA methylation changes of the MPV17L / ZNF323 genes, while 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine treatment reversed promoter hypermethylation-mediated MPV17L under-expression accompanied with reduced apoptosis and decreased generation of reactive oxygen species. Aberrant DNA methylations may constitute a determinant for ACO, and provide a biomarker of airflow limitation, exacerbation, and lung function decline.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuo-Lung Lor ◽  
Cheng-Pei Liu ◽  
Yeun-Chung Chang ◽  
Chong-Jen Yu ◽  
Cheng-Yi Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractTarget lung tissue selection remains a challenging task to perform for treating severe emphysema with lung volume reduction (LVR). In order to target the treatment candidate, the percentage of low attenuation volume (LAV%) representing the proportion of emphysema volume to whole lung volume is measured using computed tomography (CT) images. Although LAV% have shown to have a correlation with lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), similar measurements of LAV% in whole lung or lobes may have large variations in lung function due to emphysema heterogeneity. The functional information of regional emphysema destruction is required for supporting the choice of optimal target. The purpose of this study is to develop an emphysema heterogeneity descriptor for the three-dimensional emphysematous bullae according to the size variations of emphysematous density (ED) and their spatial distribution. The second purpose is to derive a predictive model of airflow limitation based on the regional emphysema heterogeneity. Deriving the bullous representation and grouping them into four scales in the upper and lower lobes, a predictive model is computed using the linear model fitting to estimate the severity of lung function. A total of 99 subjects, 87 patients with mild to very severe COPD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage I~IV) and 12 control participants with normal lung functions (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) > 0.7) were evaluated. The final model was trained with stratified cross-validation on randomly selected 75% of the dataset (n = 76) and tested on the remaining dataset (n = 23). The dispersed cases of LAV% inconsistent with their lung function outcome were evaluated, and the correlation study suggests that comparing to LAV of larger bullae, the widely spread smaller bullae with equivalent LAV has a larger impact on lung function. The testing dataset has the correlation of r = −0.76 (p < 0.01) between the whole lung LAV% and FEV1/FVC, whereas using two ED % of scales and location-dependent variables to predict the emphysema-associated FEV1/FVC, the results shows their correlation of 0.82 (p < 0.001) with clinical FEV1/FVC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ah Young Leem ◽  
Boram Park ◽  
Young Sam Kim ◽  
Joon Chang ◽  
Sungho Won ◽  
...  

Abstract Progressive decline in lung function is the hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to assess the rate of decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) in patients from a community cohort database in Korea. 5,865 subjects aged 40–69 years from the Ansung-Ansan cohort database I–III (2001–2006) were included in this study. We assessed the annual rate of decline in FEV1 over time in relation to smoking status, patient sex, and presence or absence of pre-bronchodilator airflow limitation using a generalized additive mixed model. The mean follow-up duration was 3.8 years. The annual mean decline in FEV1 in the entire cohort was significantly more rapid for men than women (31.3 mL vs 27.0 mL, P = 0.003). Among men without pre-bronchodilator airflow limitation, annual mean declines in FEV1 were 31.5, 35.5, and 40.1 mL for never smokers, former smokers (P = 0.09 vs. never smokers), and current smokers (P < 0.001 vs. never smokers), respectively; and 23.4, 19.7, and 33.9 mL, respectively, for men with pre-bronchodilator airflow limitation. Thus, among Korean males, smoking accelerates lung function decline over time whereas smoking cessation slows the rate of FEV1 decline regardless of pre-bronchodilator airflow limitation. This underscores the importance of smoking cessation in Koreans.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 00080-2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David I. Fielding ◽  
Justin Travers ◽  
Phan Nguyen ◽  
Michael G. Brown ◽  
Gunter Hartel ◽  
...  

Expiratory dynamic airways collapse (EDAC) is a condition that affects the central airways; it is not well characterised physiologically, with relatively few studies. We sought to characterise impulse oscillometry (IOS) features of EDAC in patients with normal spirometry. Expiratory data were hypothesised to be the most revealing. In addition, we compared IOS findings in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with and without EDAC.EDAC was identified at bronchoscopy as 75–100% expiratory closure at the carina or bilateral main bronchi. Four patient groups were compared: controls with no EDAC and normal lung function; lone EDAC with normal lung function; COPD-only patients; and COPD patients with EDAC.38 patients were studied. Mean IOS data z-scores for EDAC compared to controls showed significantly higher reactance (X) values including X at 5 Hz, resonance frequency and area under the reactance curve (AX). EDAC showed significantly greater expiratory/inspiratory differences in all IOS data compared to controls. Stepwise logistic regression showed that resonant frequency best discriminated between EDAC and normal control, whereas classification and regression tree analysis found AX ≥3.523 to be highly predictive for EDAC in cases with normal lung function (14 out of 15 cases, and none out of eight controls).These data show a new utility of IOS: detecting EDAC in patients with normal lung function.


2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (3) ◽  
pp. L489-L497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Marc Tadié ◽  
Priscilla Henno ◽  
Ingrid Leroy ◽  
Claire Danel ◽  
Emmanuel Naline ◽  
...  

Competition between nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) and arginases for their common substrate l-arginine could be involved in the regulation of cholinergic airway reactivity and subsequent airway remodeling. The aims of this study were to evaluate the relationships between the expression of this enzymatic balance and the effects of NOS and arginase inhibition on bronchoconstrictive response to acetylcholine of patients without and with early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Twenty-two human bronchi [15 COPD (9 GOLD-0, 6 GOLD-1, -2-A), 7 nonsmokers] were investigated for immunohistochemistry and modulation of acetylcholine-induced airway constriction. Significantly increased expression of NOS2 in immunoblots of bronchial tissue and staining in smooth muscle cells was evidenced in patients with COPD compared with control subjects, whereas no modification of arginase expression was evidenced. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and NOS2 expression were negatively correlated (ρ = −0.54, P = 0.027). Pharmacological experiments demonstrated that resting tension was elevated in COPD compared with control subjects (2,243 ± 154 vs. 1,574 ± 218 mg, P = 0.03) and was positively correlated with the expression of NOS2 (ρ = 0.61, P = 0.044), whereas constrictor response to acetylcholine was similar [active tension, sensitivity (−logEC10), and reactivity (slope)]. The sole effect of the specific arginase inhibitor Nω-hydroxy-nor-l-arginine (1 μM) was to decrease sensitivity in COPD patients, whereas 1 mM NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester unexpectedly decreased resting tension because of a non-cGMP-dependent effect. In conclusion, an upregulation of NOS2 expression in COPD patients is involved in airway tone regulation and functional airflow limitation, whereas increased arginase activity is involved in airway sensitivity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anees ur Rehman ◽  
Shahid Shah ◽  
Ghulam Abbas ◽  
Sabariah Noor Harun ◽  
Sadia Shakeel ◽  
...  

AbstractCompromised lung function is a common feature of COPD patients, but certain factors increase the rate of lung function decline in COPD patients. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of different clinically important factors responsible for rapid deterioration of lung function quantified as ≥ 60 ml decline in FEV1 over a period of one year. COPD patients recruited from the chest clinic of Penang hospital were followed-up for one year from August 2018 to August 2019. Rapid deterioration of lung function was defined as greater than 60 ml/year decline in force expiratory volume in one second. Among 367 included patients 73.84% were male, with mean age 65.26 (9.6) years and % predicted FEV1 51.07 (11.84). 30.27% patients showed mean decline of ≥ 60 ml in FEV1. The regression analysis showed that current smoking relative risk (RR) = 2.38 (1.78–3.07), p < 0.001); GOLD Stage III& IV RR = 1.43 (1.27–1.97), p < 0.001); mMRC score 3 to 4 RR = 2.03 (1.74–2.70), p < 0.01); SGRQ-C score ≥ 10 points difference RR = 2.01 (1.58–2.73), p < 0.01); SGRQ-C symptoms Score ≥ 10 points difference RR = 1.48 (1.23–2.29), p < 0.001); 6MWT < 350 m RR = 2.29 (1.87–3.34), p < 0.01); ≥ 3 exacerbation in study year RR = 2.28 (1.58–2.42, p < 0.001); 8 or more hospital admission days (RR = 3.62 (2.66–4.20), p < 0.001); Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3 RR = 3.18 (2.23–3.76), p < 0.01) and emphysema RR = 1.31 (1.15–1.79), p < 0.01) were significant risk factors for the rapid deterioration of lung function (FEV1 decline ≥ 60 ml). Among different factors CCI score ≥ 3, abrupt decline in health status, exacerbation frequency ≥ 3, hospital admission days ≥ 8 and emphysema were reported as risk factors for rapid deterioration of lung function.


2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 1037-1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice M. Leung ◽  
John Mayo ◽  
Wan Tan ◽  
C. Martin Tammemagi ◽  
Geoffrey Liu ◽  
...  

Plasma pro-surfactant protein B (pro-SFTPB) levels have recently been shown to predict the development of lung cancer in current and ex-smokers, but the ability of pro-SFTPB to predict measures of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) severity is unknown. We evaluated the performance characteristics of pro-SFTPB as a biomarker of lung function decline in a population of current and ex-smokers.Plasma pro-SFTPB levels were measured in 2503 current and ex-smokers enrolled in the Pan-Canadian Early Detection of Lung Cancer Study. Linear regression was performed to determine the relationship of pro-SFTPB levels to changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) over a 2-year period as well as to baseline FEV1 and the burden of emphysema observed in computed tomography (CT) scans.Plasma pro-SFTPB levels were inversely related to both FEV1 % predicted (p=0.024) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) (p<0.001), and were positively related to the burden of emphysema on CT scans (p<0.001). Higher plasma pro-SFTPB levels were also associated with a more rapid decline in FEV1 at 1 year (p=0.024) and over 2 years of follow-up (p=0.004).Higher plasma pro-SFTPB levels are associated with increased severity of airflow limitation and accelerated decline in lung function. Pro-SFTPB is a promising biomarker for COPD severity and progression.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate M. Johnson ◽  
Abdollah Safari ◽  
Wan C. Tan ◽  
Jean Bourbeau ◽  
J Mark FitzGerald ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe burden of symptoms varies markedly between patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and is only weakly correlated with lung function impairment. While heterogeneity in lung function decline and exacerbations have been previously studied, the extent of heterogeneity in symptoms and the factors associated with this heterogeneity are not well understood.MethodsA sample of the general Canadian population ≥40 years with persistent airflow limitation was followed for up to 3 years. Participants reported whether they experienced chronic coughing, phlegm, wheezing, or dyspnea during visits at 18-month intervals. We used mixed-effect logistic regression models (separately for each symptom) to assess overall heterogeneity in the occurrence of symptoms between individuals, and the proportion of variation in symptom burden explained by lung function versus all other clinical characteristics of participants.Results548 participants (54% male, mean age 67 years) contributed 1,086 visits in total, and 82% of patients reported at least one symptom during follow-up. There was substantial heterogeneity in the individual-specific probabilities for the occurrence of symptoms. This heterogeneity was highest for dyspnea and lowest for phlegm (interquartile range of probabilities: 0.15-0.77 and <0.01-0.53, respectively). FEV1 explained 82% of the variation between individuals in the occurrence of phlegm, 26% for dyspnea, 3% for cough, and <0.1% for wheeze. All clinical characteristics of participants (including FEV1) explained between 86% of heterogeneity in the occurrence of phlegm to <1% for wheeze.ConclusionThere is marked heterogeneity in the burden of respiratory symptoms between COPD patients. The ability of lung function and other commonly measured clinical characteristics to explain this heterogeneity differs between symptoms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Liu ◽  
Jiawei Xu ◽  
Tian Liu ◽  
Jinxiang Wu ◽  
Jiping Zhao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cigarette smoke (CS) is a major risk factor for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1), a critical factor during embryogenesis particularly in respiratory lung development, is a novel mediator related to inflammation and tissue remodeling. We tried to investigate the role of FSTL1 in CS-induced autophagy dysregulation, airway inflammation and remodeling. Methods Serum and lung specimens were obtained from COPD patients and controls. Adult female wild-type (WT) mice, FSTL1± mice and FSTL1flox/+ mice were exposed to room air or chronic CS. Additionally, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an inhibitor of autophagy, was applied in CS-exposed WT mice. The lung tissues and serum from patients and murine models were tested for FSTL1 and autophagy-associated protein expression by ELISA, western blotting and immunohistochemical. Autophagosome were observed using electron microscope technology. LTB4, IL-8 and TNF-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of mice were examined using ELISA. Airway remodeling and lung function were also assessed. Results Both FSTL1 and autophagy biomarkers increased in COPD patients and CS-exposed WT mice. Autophagy activation was upregulated in CS-exposed mice accompanied by airway remodeling and airway inflammation. FSTL1± mice showed a lower level of CS-induced autophagy compared with the control mice. FSTL1± mice can also resist CS-induced inflammatory response, airway remodeling and impaired lung function. CS-exposed WT mice with 3-MA pretreatment have a similar manifestation with CS-exposed FSTL1± mice. Conclusions FSTL1 promotes CS-induced COPD by modulating autophagy, therefore targeting FSTL1 and autophagy may shed light on treating cigarette smoke-induced COPD.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document