scholarly journals Cellular sources of interleukin-6 and associations with clinical phenotypes and outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 1901761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine E. Simpson ◽  
Jenny Y. Chen ◽  
Rachel L. Damico ◽  
Paul M. Hassoun ◽  
Lisa J. Martin ◽  
...  

The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 has been associated with outcomes in small pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) cohorts composed largely of patients with severe idiopathic PAH (IPAH). It is unclear whether IL-6 is a marker of critical illness or a mechanistic biomarker of pulmonary vascular remodelling. We hypothesised that IL-6 is produced by pulmonary vascular cells and sought to explore IL-6 associations with phenotypes and outcomes across diverse subtypes in a large PAH cohort.IL-6 protein and gene expression levels were measured in cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and endothelial cells (PAECs) from PAH patients and healthy controls. Serum IL-6 was measured in 2017 well-characterised PAH subjects representing each PAH subgroup. Relationships between IL-6 levels, clinical variables, and mortality were analysed using regression models.Significantly higher IL-6 protein and gene expression levels were produced by PASMCs than by PAECs in PAH (p<0.001), while there was no difference in IL-6 between cell types in controls. Serum IL-6 was highest in PAH related to portal hypertension and connective tissue diseases (CTD-PAH). In multivariable modelling, serum IL-6 was associated with survival in the overall cohort (hazard ratio 1.22, 95% CI 1.08–1.38; p<0.01) and in IPAH, but not in CTD-PAH. IL-6 remained associated with survival in low-risk subgroups of subjects with mild disease.IL-6 is released from PASMCs, and circulating IL-6 is associated with specific clinical phenotypes and outcomes in various PAH subgroups, including subjects with less severe disease. IL-6 is a mechanistic biomarker, and thus a potential therapeutic target, in certain PAH subgroups.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Shu ◽  
Yanjiang Xing ◽  
Jing Wang

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive life-threatening disease. The notion that autoimmunity is associated with PAH is widely recognized by the observations that patients with connective tissue diseases or virus infections are more susceptible to PAH. However, growing evidence supports that the patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH) with no autoimmune diseases also have auto-antibodies. Anti-inflammatory therapy shows less help in decreasing auto-antibodies, therefore, elucidating the process of immunoglobulin production is in great need. Maladaptive immune response in lung tissues is considered implicating in the local auto-antibodies production in patients with IPAH. In this review, we will discuss the specific cell types involved in the lung in situ immune response, the potential auto-antigens, and the contribution of local immunoglobulin production in PAH development, providing a theoretical basis for drug development and precise treatment in patients with PAH.


2020 ◽  
pp. 2002428
Author(s):  
Myriam Amsallem ◽  
Andrew J. Sweatt ◽  
Jennifer Arthur Ataam ◽  
Julien Guihaire ◽  
Florence Lecerf ◽  
...  

No prior proteomic screening study has centered on the right ventricle (RV) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This study investigates the circulating proteomic profile associated with right heart maladaptive phenotype (RHMP) in PAH.Plasma proteomic profiling was performed using multiplex immunoassay in 121 PAH patients (discovery cohort) and 76 patients (validation cohort). The association between proteomic markers and RHMP (defined by the Mayo right heart score [combining RV strain, New York Heart Association NYHA class and NT-proBNP] and Stanford score [RV end-systolic remodelling index, NYHA and NT-proBNP]) was assessed by partial least squares regression. Biomarkers expressions were measured in RV samples from PAH patients and controls, and pulmonary artery banding (PAB) mice.High levels of hepatic growth factor (HGF), stem cell growth factor beta, nerve growth factor and stromal derived factor-1 were associated with worse Mayo and Stanford scores independently from pulmonary resistance or pressure in both cohorts (the validation cohort had more severe disease features: lower cardiac index and higher NT-proBNP). In both cohorts, HGF added value to the REVEAL score in the prediction of death, transplant, or hospitalisation at 3 years. RV expression levels of HGF and its receptor c-Met were higher in end-stage PAH patients than controls, and in PAB mice than shams.High plasma HGF levels are associated with RHMP and predictive of 3-year clinical worsening. Both HGF and c-Met RV expression levels are increased in PAH. Assessing plasma HGF levels might identify patients at risk for heart failure who warrant closer follow-up and intensified therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1063.2-1063
Author(s):  
J. Wang ◽  
Y. Feng ◽  
Y. Lei ◽  
X. Zhang

Background:Based on the characteristics of systemic lupus erythematosus-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SLE-PAH), Sunet alhas put forward a scoring system to distinguish two clinical phenotypes as vasculitic and vasculopathic subtypes[1]. A weighted score ≥2 suggested a vasculitic subtype by combining two factors: The time interval between SLE and PAH diagnosis <2 years and ≥2 years were 1 and 0 point; SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) >9, 5-9 and <5 were 2, 1, 0 point, respectively. While the vasculitic subtype seemed to have poorer prognosis in Sun’s research, other study has shown controversial result[2].Objectives:To find out the prognosis of two distinct clinical phenotypes of SLE-PAH.Methods:Between 2008 and 2019, a SLE-PAH cohort confirmed by right heart catheterization (RHC) from Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital was included. Other groups of pulmonary hypertension were excluded. Based on the scoring system, patients were divided into vasculitic (weighted score≥2) and vasculopathic subtypes (weighted score<2). The endpoint was PAH-related mortality. Survival status were confirmed by clinic follow-up data or phone call.Results:A total of 53 SLE-PAH patients were enrolled. The cases of vasculitic and vasculopathic subtype were 14 and 39, respectively. Ten endpoint events occurred. Eight attributed to PAH and the cause could not be traced in two which were still included in study. The pooled 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates were 85.7%, 78.6%, 65.5% in vasculitic subtype, and 93.9%, 87.5%, 87.5% in vasculopathic subtype, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed vasculitic subtype tended to have a poorer prognosis than vasculopathic subtype (p=0.16, HR 2.4, 95%CI 0.5-13.8, figure 1).Figure 1.Survival curves for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus-pulmonary arterial hypertension (SLE-PAH) in two distinct subtypes. RHC, Right Heart Catheterization.Conclusion:The prognosis of the two phenotypes of SLE-PAH was statistically indifferent while the vasculitic subtype showed a trend of worse prognosis. Further studies are needed.References:[1]F. Sun, Y. Lei, W. Wu, L. Guo, K. Wang, Z. Chen, W. Xu, X. Wang, T. Li, X. Zhang, S. Ye, Two distinct clinical phenotypes of pulmonary arterial hypertension secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus, Ann Rheum Dis 78(1) (2019) 148-150.[2]J. Qian, M. Li, J. Zhao, Q. Wang, Z. Tian, X. Zeng, Inflammation in SLE-PAH: good news or not?, Ann Rheum Dis (2018).0:1–2. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-214605Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1859.1-1860
Author(s):  
Y. Zhang ◽  
N. Zhang ◽  
Y. Zhu ◽  
Q. Wang ◽  
L. Zhou

Background:Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a fatal complication of connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Chest CT has been increasingly used in the evaluation of patients with suspected PH noninvasively but there is a paucity of studies.Objectives:Our study was aimed to investigate the cross-sectional area (CSA) of small pulmonary vessels on chest CT for the diagnosis and prognosis of CTD-PAH.Methods:This retrospective study analyzed the data of thirty-four patients with CTD-PAH who were diagnosed by right heart catheterization (RHC) and underwent chest CT between March 2011 and October 2019. We measured the percentage of total CSA of vessels<5 mm2and 5-10 mm2as a percentage of total lung area (%CSA<5and %CSA5-10) on Chest CT. Furthermore, the association of %CSA with mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was also investigated. Besides, these patients were followed up until October 2019, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated for the evaluation of prognosis.Results:Patients with CTD-PAH had significantly higher %CSA5-10than CTD-nPAH (p=0.001), %CSA5-10in CTD-S-PAH and IPAH was significantly higher than CTD-LM-PAH and COPD-PH (p<0.01). There was a positive correlation between %CSA5-10and mPAP in CTD-PAH (r=0.447, p=0.008). Considering %CSA5-10above 0.38 as a threshold level, the sensitivity and specificity were found to be 0.824 and 0.706, respectively. Patients with %CSA5-10≥0.38 had a lower survival rate than those with %CSA5-10<0.38 (p=0.049).Conclusion:Quantitative parameter, %CSA5-10on Chest CT might serve a crucial differential diagnostic tool for different types of PH. %CSA5-10≥0.38 is a prognostic indicator for evaluation of CTD-PAH.References:[1]Galie N, Humbert M, Vachiery JL, et al. 2015 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension. Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed). 2016;69(2):177.[2]Siddiqui I, Rajagopal S, Brucker A, et al. Clinical and Echocardiographic Predictors of Outcomes in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension. Am J Cardiol. 2018;122(5):872-878.[3]Coste F, Dournes G, Dromer C, et al. CT evaluation of small pulmonary vessels area in patients with COPD with severe pulmonary hypertension. Thorax. 2016;71(9):830-837.[4]Freed BH, Collins JD, Francois CJ, et al. MR and CT Imaging for the Evaluation of Pulmonary Hypertension. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2016;9(6):715-732.[5]Pietra GG, Capron F, Stewart S, et al. Pathologic assessment of vasculopathies in pulmonary hypertension. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2004;43(12 Suppl S):25S-32S.[6]Zanatta E, Polito P, Famoso G, et al. Pulmonary arterial hypertension in connective tissue disorders: Pathophysiology and treatment. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2019;244(2):120-131.[7]Rabinovitch M, Guignabert C, Humbert M, Nicolls MR. Inflammation and immunity in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Circ Res. 2014;115(1):165-175.[8]Thenappan T, Ormiston ML, Ryan JJ, Archer SL. Pulmonary arterial hypertension: pathogenesis and clinical management. BMJ. 2018;360:j5492.[9]Thompson AAR, Lawrie A. Targeting Vascular Remodeling to Treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Trends Mol Med. 2017;23(1):31-45.[10]Shimoda LA, Laurie SS. Vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension. J Mol Med (Berl). 2013;91(3):297-309.[11]Rabinovitch M. Molecular pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension. J Clin Invest. 2012;122(12):4306-4313.[12]Seeger W, Adir Y, Barbera JA, et al. Pulmonary hypertension in chronic lung diseases. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;62(25 Suppl):D109-116.Acknowledgments:Thanks to all patients involved in this retrospective study. Thanks go to every participant who participated in this study for their enduring efforts in working with participants to complete the study. Thanks to Liangmin Wei for helping us with statistics analysis.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Moll ◽  
Romy B Christmann ◽  
Yuqing Zhang ◽  
Michael L Whitfield ◽  
Yu Mei Wang ◽  
...  

Objective: Pulmonary arterial hypertension and interstitial lung disease are major causes of mortality in systemic sclerosis. We used a previously identified microarray biomarker to determine whether systemic sclerosis-pulmonary arterial hypertension and systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease patients demonstrate distinct gene expression profiles. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from healthy controls ( n = 10), systemic sclerosis patients without pulmonary hypertension (systemic sclerosis-no pulmonary arterial hypertension, n = 39), and systemic sclerosis-pulmonary arterial hypertension patients ( n = 21; mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥25, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ≤15, and pulmonary vascular resistance ≥3 Wood units) diagnosed by right heart catheterization. Systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease patients were defined as those with evidence of fibrosis on chest computed tomography and significant restriction (forced vital capacity <70% predicted, n = 11). Systemic sclerosis-pulmonary arterial hypertension biomarker included 69 genes selected by unbiased statistical screening of three publicly available microarray studies. RNA levels were measured by NanoString Technologies. Gene expression levels that were significantly correlated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (multiple statistical measures) were chosen as inputs into a forward selection logistic regression model. Results: When interstitial lung disease patients were included ( n = 64), four genes (S100P, CD8B1, CCL2, and TIMP1) and male sex predicted pulmonary arterial hypertension with a high level of accuracy (area under the curve = 0.83). Without interstitial lung disease patients ( n = 53), two genes (THBS1 and CD8B1) and male sex predicted pulmonary arterial hypertension with a high level of accuracy (area under the curve = 0.80). When examining systemic sclerosis patients with borderline elevated pulmonary pressures (mean pulmonary arterial pressure = 21–24 mmHg), gene expression changes closely resembled the systemic sclerosis-pulmonary arterial hypertension group, except for THBS1. Conclusion: Systemic sclerosis-pulmonary arterial hypertension and systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease have similar but distinct gene expression profiles. Many gene expression changes occur early in the disease course, potentially allowing early detection. THBS1 appears to be an important mediator in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension-predominant phenotype. Further prospective investigation is warranted.


2019 ◽  
Vol 317 (3) ◽  
pp. L369-L380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia R. Stephens ◽  
Kelly Weiss ◽  
Matthew Frimel ◽  
Jonathan A. Rose ◽  
Yu Sun ◽  
...  

The β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) exists in an equilibrium of inactive and active conformational states, which shifts in response to different ligands and results in downstream signaling. In addition to cAMP, βAR signals to hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). We hypothesized that a βAR-active conformation (R**) that leads to HIF-1 is separable from the cAMP-activating conformation (R*) and that pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients with HIF-biased conformations would not respond to a cAMP agonist. We compared two cAMP agonists, isoproterenol and salbutamol, in vitro. Isoproterenol increased cAMP and HIF-1 activity, while salbutamol increased cAMP and reduced HIF-1. Hypoxia blunted agonist-stimulated cAMP, consistent with receptor equilibrium shifting toward HIF-activating conformations. Similarly, isoproterenol increased HIF-1 and erythropoiesis in mice, while salbutamol decreased erythropoiesis. βAR overexpression in cells increased glycolysis, which was blunted by HIF-1 inhibitors, suggesting increased βAR leads to increased hypoxia-metabolic effects. Because PAH is also characterized by HIF-related glycolytic shift, we dichotomized PAH patients in the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Treatment with Carvedilol for Heart Failure trial (NCT01586156) based on right ventricular (RV) glucose uptake to evaluate βAR ligands. Patients with high glucose uptake had more severe disease than those with low uptake. cAMP increased in response to isoproterenol in mononuclear cells from low-uptake patients but not in high-uptake patients’ cells. When patients were treated with carvedilol for 1 wk, the low-uptake group decreased RV systolic pressures and pulmonary vascular resistance, but high-uptake patients had no physiologic responses. The findings expand the paradigm of βAR activation and uncover a novel PAH subtype that might benefit from β-blockers.


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