Study of the immunogenetic profile in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

ABSTRACT

T-lymphocyte subsets, HLA-antigens, and bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] cytology were studied in 20 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [IPF] and compared to another 20 normal volunteers. T-lymphoctes% was significantly decreased in IPF, but T-helper [T[h]]%, T-suppressor [T[s]]% and T[h]/T[s] ratio were similar in both groups. T[h]% was found to have a significant positive correlation with the dyspnoea grade and X-ray stage. Although there was no single HLA-antigen that has been significantly prevalent among IPF, there were few antigens that were more frequent in IPF without frank significancy; they were HLA-B[7], B[8], B[12], and DR[2]. HLA-B[8] had a significant negative correlation with T[h]%, so it may protect against pulmonary fibrosis as T[h]%, is elevated with progression of the disease. BAL study revealed that there was significant decrease in alveolar macrophage% [AM] and increase in neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosionphils% in IPF. Correlation studies revealed that AM% had negative correlation with X-ray stage and T[s]%, while neurophils% had significant positive correlation with X-ray stage. Meanwhile, eosinophils had a good association with many parameters, i.e., dyspnoea grade, X-ray stage, T[h]% and T[s]%. These results may provide a support for the role of immune mediated pathogenesis in IPF