Change in Serum Biomarker CA 15-3 as an Early Predictor of Response to Treatment and Survival in Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis.

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease with a heterogeneous course of disease and treatment response. Cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), part of mucin 1, is believed to reflect epithelial cell injury and lung permeability and could be a potential biomarker for treatment response in HP. OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of CA 15-3 as a predictive biomarker in non-fibrotic and fibrotic HP during immunosuppressive therapy. DESIGN: Serum levels of CA 15-3 and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were retrospectively retrieved from 48 HP patients treated with prednisone or cyclophosphamide at initiation of therapy (baseline), after 3 and 6 months. Pearson's correlation coefficient was computed to assess correlations between change in serum levels and PFT. Survival was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: After 6 months of immunosuppressive therapy CA 15-3 levels decreased significantly compared to baseline (p = 0.001). Change in CA 15-3 after 6 months correlated with FVC change (r = - 0.469; p = 0.001). Correlations with FVC change were observed in prednisone-treated HP (r = - 0.514; p = 0.005) and fibrotic HP (r = - 0.417; p = 0.007). Three-month CA 15-3 change correlated with 6-month FVC change (r = - 0.599; p < 0.001). CA 15-3 declines of at least 7.9% after 6 months were associated with increased survival compared to minor CA 15-3 changes (HR 0.34; p = 0.020). CONCLUSION: Serum CA 15-3 correlates with PFT during 6 months of immunosuppressive therapy in HP. Interestingly, early CA 15-3 changes could predict future PFT. Furthermore, a decrease in CA 15-3 is related to longer survival. Therefore, serum CA 15-3 is a promising biomarker for implementation in HP care.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) -173 polymorphism is associated with clinical erythema nodosum in Löfgren's syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been shown to be a key regulator in innate and adaptive immune responses. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5' region of the MIF gene, MIF -173∗G/C, is associated with increased MIF protein production, in vivo and in vitro. Associations have been shown between the minor MIF -173C allele and sarcoidosis patients with erythema nodosum (EN). Löfgren's syndrome is an acute and usually self-remitting phenotype of sarcoidosis. It is defined as having an acute onset with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL), fever, erythema nodosum (EN) and/or arthritis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether MIF -173G/C associates with the susceptibility to and the clinical manifestations, i.e. arthritis or EN, of Löfgren's syndrome. A total of 171 patients with Löfgren's syndrome and 313 controls were genotyped for a single nucleotide polymorphism at position -173 of the MIF gene (SNP rs755622), using a PCR and a restriction enzyme technique. RESULTS: There were no significant differences found in the MIF -173C allele frequencies between patients with Löfgren's syndrome and controls. In patients with Löfgren's syndrome with only EN, a significantly increased frequency of the C minor allele was observed compared to patients with arthritis only (p=0.0095; OR 3.08, CI: 1.28-7.39). Patients with only EN compared to patients with EN and arthritis showed a significantly increased frequency of the minor C allele (p=0.044; OR 1.97, CI: 1.01-3.85). But patients with only arthritis compared to patients with EN and arthritis did not show a significant difference in C allele frequency (p=0.270; OR 0.64, CI: 0.29-1.42). CONCLUSIONS: The MIF -173C allele is associated with erythema nodosum in Löfgren's syndrome, but not with susceptibility to sarcoidosis. This indicates a role for MIF after antigen presenting to the T cell has taken place and the sarcoid inflammatory response has begun.

YKL-40 and matrix metalloproteinases as potential biomarkers of inflammation and fibrosis in the development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after lung transplantation is characterized by inflammation, remodeling and fibrosis. Both YKL-40 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 have shown to be involved in these processes. We measured serial YKL-40 and MMP-9 serum levels in lung transplant recipients and assessed their usefulness as biomarker for BOS. Furthermore, we investigate the relationship between these two potential biomarkers of BOS and MMP-7. DESIGN: Ten patients with BOS (BOS(pos)) and 10 matched patients without BOS (BOS(neg)) were included. Serial serum samples were collected after lung transplantation and prior to BOS. YKL-40, MMP-9 and MMP-7 serum levels were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: The median concentrations of YKL-40 did not differ between BOS(pos) and BOS(neg) patients (p > 0.05). The median concentration of MMP-9 in BOS(pos) patients was significantly higher than in BOS(neg) patients (p < 0.0001). For MMP-9 as possible risk factor for BOS, a cut off value of 145 ng/ml has a sensitivity of 90% and a negative predictive value of 83%. Longitudinal analysis of YKL-40 and MMP-9 serum levels from the early post-transplant period onwards did not reveal a significant trend in time in both serum levels preceding BOS. In BOS(neg) patients MMP-9 showed an inverse relationship with MMP-7, that was absent in BOS(pos) patients. CONCLUSIONS: From the moment of transplantation onwards, patients who eventually developed BOS had significantly increased MMP-9 serum levels in comparison with patients who did not develop BOS. Therefore, increased MMP-9 serum levels might be useful as risk factor for BOS.

Bronchoalveolar lavage cell pattern from healthy human lung.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is widely accepted as a key diagnostic procedure in interstitial lung diseases (ILD). We performed a study to obtain reference intervals of differential cell patterns in BAL fluid with special attention to the origin of lavage fluid, e.g. bronchial/alveolar, to atopy and smoking status and to age of the healthy people. We performed bronchoalveolar lavage in 55 healthy subjects with known atopy status (age: 18-64 years, non-smokers/smokers: 34/21) and determined differential cell counts and lymphocyte subsets in BAL fluid and blood. Moreover, in a subgroup of non-smoking healthy individuals we measured the expression of the regulatory T cell marker forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) on blood and BAL fluid lymphocytes in addition to a comprehensive set of activation markers. Differential cell counts from the alveolar lavage fraction differed significantly from calculated pooled fractions (n = 11). In contrast, marginal differences were found between atopic and non-atopic subjects. Interestingly, the BAL fluid CD4(+) /CD8(+) ratio correlated strongly with age (r(2) = 0·50, P < 0·0001). We consider the bronchial and alveolar fraction to be lavage fluid from fundamentally different compartments and recommend analysis of the alveolar fraction in diagnostic work-up of ILD. In addition, our data suggest that age corrected BAL fluid CD4(+) /CD8(+) ratios should be used in the clinical evaluation of patients with interstitial lung diseases.

Genetic variation in the Toll-like receptor gene cluster (TLR10-TLR1-TLR6) influences disease course in sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Various microorganisms have been proposed as etiologic agent suggesting a role for pattern-recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in disease pathogenesis, with a special interest in TLR-2. TLR-10, TLR-1, and TLR-6 act as co-receptors for TLR-2 and the genes encoding these receptors are located in a gene cluster on chromosome 4. The aim of our study was to assess differences in genetic variation in the TLR10-TLR1-TLR6 gene cluster between patients and controls. A total of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in 447 healthy controls and 533 patients, divided in 425 with sarcoidosis and 108 with Löfgren's syndrome. Comparison of the total patient cohort with controls showed that the allele frequencies of rs1109695, rs7658893 (TLR-10), and rs5743604 as well as rs5743594 (TLR-1) differed significantly. Haplotype analysis showed that the most common haplotype found was significantly decreased in patients with chronic sarcoidosis. Furthermore, a less common haplotype was found to be significantly increased in patients with Löfgren's syndrome as well as sarcoidosis patients with self-remitting disease, indicating that it could act as a disease modifying haplotype. In conclusion, our study suggests that absence of the common haplotype in the TLR10-TLR1-TLR6 gene cluster increases the risk of developing chronic disease in patients already affected by sarcoidosis. Based on their role as co-receptors for TLR-2, this study supports the growing evidence that aberrant TLR-2 function is important in sarcoidosis disease pathogenesis.

Genetic variability in the IL1RN gene and the balance between interleukin (IL)-1 receptor agonist and IL-1ß in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease of unknown aetiology. Interleukin (IL)-1ß plays an important role in inflammation and has been associated with fibrotic remodelling. We investigated the balance between IL-1ß and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum as well as the influence of genetic variability in the IL1B and IL1RN gene on disease susceptibility and cytokine levels. In 77 IPF patients and 349 healthy controls, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL1RN and IL1B genes were determined. Serum and BALF IL-1Ra and IL-1ß levels were measured using a multiplex suspension bead array system and were correlated with genotypes. Both in serum and BALF a significantly decreased IL-1Ra/IL-1ß ratio was found in IPF patients compared to healthy controls. In the IL1RN gene, one SNP was associated with both the susceptibility to IPF and reduced IL-1Ra/IL-1ß ratios in BALF. Our results show that genetic variability in the IL1RN gene may play a role in the pathogenesis of IPF and that this role may be more important than thought until recently. The imbalance between IL-1Ra and IL-1ß might contribute to a proinflammatory and pro-fibrotic environment in their lungs.

Combined influence of proton-pump inhibitors, calcium-channel blockers and CYP2C19*2 on on-treatment platelet reactivity and on the occurrence of atherothrombotic events after percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The carriage of CYP2C19*2 and the use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and calcium-channel blockers (CCBs) has been associated with the diminished efficacy of clopidogrel. However, previous studies have only assessed the isolated impact of these risk factors for clopidogrel poor response. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of the combined presence of three risk factors for clopidogrel poor response, that is, the use of CCBs, PPIs and the carriage of CYP2C19*2, on on-treatment platelet reactivity and the occurrence of atherothrombotic events in 725 patients on dual antiplatelet therapy undergoing elective coronary stenting. METHODS: In a prospective, follow-up study, on-treatment platelet reactivity was quantified using ADP-induced light transmittance aggregometry (LTA) and the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay. The clinical study endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis and stroke at 1 year after stenting. RESULTS: Patients with either one or more than one risk factor exhibited increased platelet reactivity (mean relative increase one risk factor: 11% and > 1 risk factor: 22%, respectively). Sixty-four events occurred during follow-up (8.8% of the study population). Patients with one risk factor for clopidogrel poor response did not have an increased risk of the composite endpoint. However, patients using both CCBs and PPIs and carriers of CYP2C19*2 who used CCBs had a statistically significant increased risk of the composite endpoint [hazard ratio(HR)(adj) 2.2 95% CI, 1.0-5.3, P = 0.044 and HR(adj) 3.3 95% CI, 1.1-9.8, P = 0.032, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of more than one of the three investigated risk factors for clopidogrel poor response is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events within 1 year after elective coronary stenting.

Genetic variation in GREM1 is a risk factor for fibrosis in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous systemic disorder most often affecting the lung. Pulmonary fibrosis develops in approximately 10%-15% of patients with sarcoidosis. The human gene GREM1 encodes gremlin, a member of the bone morphogenetic protein antagonist family. Bone morphogenetic proteins are essential for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and regeneration after injury. We examined associations between genetic variation in GREM1 and pulmonary disease outcome in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. Four common tag single nucleotide polymorphisms spanning GREM1 were genotyped in 483 controls and in 237 sarcoidosis patients with radiographic data at pulmonary disease outcome, defined by chest X-ray after a minimum of 4 years follow-up. Highly significant differences were found between GREM1 genotype frequencies in sarcoidosis patients without chest X-ray abnormalities (stage 0) (n = 116) versus patients who had fibrosis on chest X-ray (stage IV) (n = 59) at pulmonary disease outcome. The most significant association was with GREM1 rs1919364. The recessive model resulted in an increased risk of fibrosis development for homozygous carriers of the C allele at GREM1 rs1919364 versus carriers of the G allele [P = 9.3 × 10⁻7, χ² = 24.1, odds ratio (OR) = 6.37 (2.89-14.1)]. This study is the first to suggest that genetic variation of GREM1 predisposes to pulmonary fibrosis in sarcoidosis patients. Carriers of the GREM1 CC genotype at position rs1919364 were at 6.4 times greater risk for developing fibrosis.

Toll-like receptor (TLR)-9 genetics and function in sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disorder characterized by the formation of non-caseating granulomas in variable organs. Toll-like receptor (TLR)-9 is important in the innate immune response against both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Propionibacterium acnes, candidate causative agents in sarcoidosis. The aim of our study was to investigate possible genetic and functional differences in TLR-9 between patients and controls. TLR-9 single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in 533 patients and divided into a study cohort and validation cohort and 185 healthy controls. Furthermore, part of the promotor as well as the entire coding region of the TLR-9 gene were sequenced in 20 patients in order to detect new mutations. No genetic differences were found between patients and controls. In order to test TLR-9 function, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 12 healthy controls and 12 sarcoidosis patients were stimulated with a TLR-9 agonist and the induction of interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-23 was measured. Sarcoidosis patients produce significantly less IFN-γ upon stimulation with different stimuli. Regarding IL-23 production, a significant difference between patients and controls was found only after stimulation with the TLR-9 agonist. In conclusion, we did not find genetic differences in the TLR-9 gene between sarcoidosis patients and controls. Sarcoidosis patients produce less IFN-γ regardless of the stimulating agent, probably reflecting the anergic state often seen in their peripheral blood T lymphocytes. The differences in TLR-9-induced IL-23 production could indicate that functional defects in the TLR-9 pathway of sarcoidosis patients play a role in disease susceptibility or evolution.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in inflammation-related genes are associated with venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: Various genetic risk factors are known to increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Increasing evidence suggests a "cross-talk" between the coagulation and inflammatory cascade. Therefore, polymorphisms in genes involved in inflammation may influence susceptibility towards VTE. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in inflammation genes for susceptibility towards VTE. METHODS: The study group consisted of 108 (47 men and 61 women) Dutch patients with documented VTE and 325 healthy controls from the same geographical area (117 men and 208 women). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for VTE separately and if indicated by gender were calculated to assess whether genotype and allele frequency were associated with thrombosis. RESULTS: Heterozygosity for SNP -899C/T of the interleukin 1-alpha gene (IL1A -899C/T) was under-represented in VTE patients compared to the control group (OR=0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.82). The IL6 -174 CC genotype was more frequent in male patients with VTE compared to male controls (OR=4.06, 95% CI 1.43-11.5). Female patients carried significantly more IL13 (intron3) TT genotype (OR=5.60, 95% CI 1.94-18.5) compared to female controls. The allelic frequency of IL4 -589 T allele was significantly increased in female patients (OR=1.72, 95% CI 1.05-2.81) in contrast to men where no differences were observed. CONCLUSION: Four SNPs in inflammatory-related genes of IL1A, IL4, IL6, and IL13 may be associated with VTE. These results need to be confirmed in independent groups with larger number of patients.

The influence of variation in the P2Y12 receptor gene on in vitro platelet inhibition with the direct P2Y12 antagonist cangrelor.

Novel P2Y12 inhibitors are in development to overcome the occurrence of atherothrombotic events associated with poor responsiveness to the widely used P2Y12 inhibitor clopidogrel. Cangrelor is an intravenously administered P2Y12 inhibitor that does not need metabolic conversion to an active metabolite for its antiplatelet action, and as a consequence exhibits a more potent and consistent antiplatelet profile as compared to clopidogrel. It was the objective of this study to determine the contribution of variation in the P2Y12 receptor gene to platelet aggregation after in vitro partial P2Y12 receptor blockade with the direct antagonist cangrelor. Optical aggregometry was performed at baseline and after in vitro addition of 0.05 and 0.25 microM cangrelor to the platelet-rich plasma of 254 healthy subjects. Five haplotype-tagging (ht)-SNPs covering the entire P2Y12 receptor gene were genotyped (rs6798347C>t, rs6787801T>c, rs9859552C>a, rs6801273A>g and rs2046934T>c [T744C]) and haplotypes were inferred. The minor c allele of SNP rs6787801 was associated with a 5% lower 20 microM ADP-induced peak platelet aggregation (0.05 microM cangrelor, p<0.05). Aa homozygotes for SNP rs9859552 showed 20% and 17% less inhibition of platelet aggregation with cangrelor when compared to CC homozygotes (0.05 and 0.25 microM cangrelor respectively; p<0.05). Results of the haplotype analyses were consistent with those of the single SNPs. Polymorphisms of the P2Y12 receptor gene contribute significantly to the interindividual variability in platelet inhibition after partial in vitro blockade with the P2Y12 antagonist cangrelor.

CA 15-3 as an alternative marker for KL-6 in fibrotic lung diseases.

BACKGROUND: KL-6 is a mucin that is increased in interstitial lung diseases (ILD), and in some malignancies. CA 15-3, a tumor marker for breast cancer, refers to the same mucin but utilizes antibodies against different epitopes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate CA 15-3 as a viable alternative to KL-6 as a for ILDs with and without fibrosis. DESIGN: Serum from 242 patients with ILDs and from 327 healthy controls were included and KL-6 and CA 15-3 were measured in all subjects. Regression analyses and ROC curves were used to compare the performances of both markers. RESULTS: KL-6 and CA 15-3 levels were both significantly higher in the ILD patients compared to the controls (p < 0.0001). A weak yet significant correlation was found between serum KL-6 and CA 15-3 levels in the controls (R = 0.39, p < 0.0001), but showed a much higher correlation in the patient group (R = 0.85, p < 0.0001). CA 15-3 correlated best with KL-6 in patients with fibrotic ILDs (R = 0.83, p < 0.0001). KL-6 performed better as a marker compared to CA 15-3 in most ILDs. Both markers performed best in identifying idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and were equally able to differentiate between ILDs with and without fibrosis: (sensitivity and specificity %): 100/97, 95/92, and 90/72, respectively. CONCLUSION: CA 15-3 and KL-6 are equally sensitive and specific in terms of differentiating between ILDs with and without fibrosis. The wide availability, ease of use, and cost effectiveness, make CA 15-3 a viable alternative for KL-6 as a possible marker for pulmonary fibrosis.

Angiotensin II receptor type 1 1166 A/C and angiotensin converting enzyme I/D gene polymorphisms in a Dutch sarcoidosis cohort.

BACKGROUND: The angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT2R1) is the receptor for angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor produced by ACE from angiotensin I. A recent study by Biller and colleagues revealed a gender-specific association between the AT2R1 1166 A/C gene polymorphism and disease susceptibility as well as a co-dependent association between AT2R1 1166 A/C and the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion polymorphism on ACE levels in a group of German sarcoidosis patients. OBJECTIVE: . The aim of our study was to compare our results from Dutch Caucasian sarcoidosis patients with the results of Biller et al. DESIGN: Serum and DNA from 99 patients with sarcoidosis and from 327 healthy controls were included. The AT2R1 1166 A/C and ACE I/D polymorphisms and serum ACE levels were analyzed in all subjects. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the genotype distributions between the sarcoidosis patients and controls. The genotype distributions for either polymorphism between genders and between patients with progressive/chronic disease and those with acute/remission type disease were not different. The ACE D allele contributed significantly to higher ACE levels. This was true for both sarcoidosis patients and controls. There was no association between the AT2R1 1166 A/C genotype and ACE levels, nor did AT2R1 modify the ACE D/I effects on ACE levels. No significant differences were observed in co-incidence of ACE and AT2R1 genotypes between patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Our study could not confirm the findings by Biller and colleagues other than the influence of the ACE I/D polymorphism on serum ACE levels in both sarcoidosis patients and controls.

Risk of thrombosis and infections of central venous catheters and totally implanted access ports in patients treated for cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Thrombosis and infections are well known complications of central venous catheters and totally implanted access ports. These complications lead to increased costs due to prolonged hospitalisation, increased antibiotics use and need for replacement. The objectives of the study were to document the occurrence of catheter related thrombosis and infections in patients with central venous catheters and totally implanted chest ports in cancer patients and to investigate whether factor V Leiden is a risk factor for catheter related thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 2002 and November 2004, 43 patients with central venous catheter or totally implanted access port were followed up to document the occurrence of catheter related thrombosis and infections. Patients received chemotherapy either for haematological malignancy or for solid tumours. Factor V Leiden (R506Q) was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Follow-up period ended in April 2007. RESULTS: Catheter related thrombosis occurred in 4 patients (4/43; 9.3%) with a totally implanted access port. None of the 3 patients with factor V Leiden had catheter related infection or thrombosis. Catheter related infections occurred in 15 patients: 10 patients (23.3%; 10/43) with central venous catheter and 5 patients (11.6%; 5/43) with totally implanted access ports. Time to infection was 32.5 days in the central venous catheter group compared to 88 days in the totally implanted access port group. CONCLUSION: A higher incidence of catheter related infections was observed in patients with central venous catheters in contrast to patients with totally implanted access ports were venous thrombosis was more frequent.

Variation in IL7R predisposes to sarcoid inflammation.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disorder characterized by a massive influx of Th1 lymphocytes. Both naive and memory T cells express high levels of interleukin 7 receptor-alpha (IL7R alpha), encoded by the IL7R gene. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the IL7R gene region in susceptibility to sarcoidosis. Six common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning IL7R were genotyped and analyzed in 475 sarcoidosis patients and 465 healthy controls. Replication of one significant associated SNP was carried out in 206 independent sarcoidosis patients, 127 controls and 126 patients with Löfgren's disease. The rs10213865 SNP was associated with sarcoidosis (P=0.008), and in silico analysis showed a complete linkage (r(2)=1, D'=1) with a functional nonsynonymous coding SNP in exon 6 (rs6897932, T244I). Combined analysis of 663 individuals with sarcoidosis and 586 controls (homozygous carriers of risk allele, P=5 x 10(-4), odds ratio=1.49 (1.19-1.86)) provided strong statistical support for a genuine association of IL7R with the risk of sarcoidosis. In addition, we report the same trend between variation in the IL7R gene and patients with Löfgren's disease, suggesting that variation in IL7R may confer general risk for developing granulomatous lung disease.

Effect of variation in ITGAE on risk of sarcoidosis, CD103 expression, and chest radiography.

The integrin alpha(E)beta(7) is believed to play a key role in retention of lymphocytes in mucosal tissues of gut, urogenital tract and lung. Five common single nucleotide polymorphisms spanning ITGAE, the gene encoding the alpha(E) (CD103) unit, were genotyped in 556 sarcoidosis patients and 465 controls. The -1088 A/G polymorphism was associated with sarcoidosis (P=0.004). An increased risk of disease was found for homozygous carriers of the A allele vs. carriers of the G allele (P=0.001, odds ratio=1.63 [1.22-2.17]). Analysis of lymphocytes from bronchoalveolar lavage and in vitro functional tests showed higher percentages of CD103+CD4+ T cells for the sarcoidosis risk genotype. Radiographic staging at disease outcome revealed prevalence of -1088 AA genotype in patients with fibrosis (P=0.01). A higher proportion of CD103+CD4+ T cells and ITGAE -1088 AA genotype might be associated with fibrosis formation in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Surfactant protein-D predicts survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive interstitial lung disease with a high mortality rate. As lung transplantation is the only therapeutic option, it is important to predict survival. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the clinical value of surfactant protein-D as a marker of prognosis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. DESIGN: Surfactant protein-D was measured in serum of 72 patients and 305 healthy controls. The optimal cut-off level to define unfavourable prognosis was determined using a ROC analysis. A Cox's proportional Hazards model was used to evaluate variables that were significant predictors of survival. RESULTS: Serum levels of surfactant protein-D were significantly higher in patients than in controls. ROC analysis showed 460 ng/ml to be the optimal cut-off level to discriminate survivor from non-survivors after 1 year. Patients with high levels (> 460 ng/ml) had a median survival time of 13 months, compared to 67 months in the group with low levels (< 460 ng/ml). Surfactant protein-D showed to be a significant predictor of prognosis, even when corrected for age, sex, smoking, and lung function. CONCLUSION: The measurement of surfactant protein-D in serum of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis might be a clinically relevant tool to predict survival.

Complement receptor 1 single nucleotide polymorphisms in Czech and Dutch patients with sarcoidosis.

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C5507G of the complement receptor 1 (CR1) gene has been associated with genetic susceptibility to sarcoidosis in an Italian population. In order to provide further data on the possible involvement of CR1 gene polymorphisms in sarcoidosis, CR1 SNPs C5507G and A3650G were investigated in Czech (n = 210) and Dutch (n = 116) patients with sarcoidosis with ethnically matched groups of healthy control subjects (Czech, n = 203; Dutch, n = 112). CR1 C5507G and A3650G SNPs were not associated with susceptibility to sarcoidosis or its clinical course. Further, CR1 messenger RNA expression in bronchoalveolar lavage cells investigated by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction did not differ between sarcoidosis patients and control subjects and was not associated with the presence of the CR1 5507*G allele.

Atopy and new-onset asthma in young Danish farmers and CD14, TLR2, and TLR4 genetic polymorphisms: a nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence exists that exposure to high levels of microbial agents such as endotoxin in the farm environment decreases the risk of atopic sensitization. Genetic variation in innate immunity genes may modulate the response to microbial agents and thus influence susceptibility to asthma and atopy. OBJECTIVE: To study potential associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CD14, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), and TLR4 genes, and atopy and new-onset asthma in young farmers. METHODS: A nested case-control study was conducted within a cohort of 1901 young Danish farmers. We genotyped 100 new-onset asthma cases and 88 control subjects for three CD14 SNPs, three TLR2 SNPs, and two TLR4 SNPs. Atopy at baseline (defined as a positive skin prick test to one or more common inhalant allergens) was found in 17 asthma cases (17.0%) and in 17 controls (19.3%). RESULTS: The CD14/-260T allele was significantly associated with less atopy [odds ratio (OR) 0.39; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21-0.72, additive genetic model], whereas the CD14/-651T allele was positively associated with atopy (OR 2.53; 95% CI 1.33-4.80). Similar results were obtained by haplotype analysis. Stratified analysis by farm childhood showed stronger effects of both CD14 SNPs on atopy among farmers who were born and raised on a farm, although no significant interaction was found. No associations between CD14, TLR2, or TLR4 genotypes and new-onset asthma were found. CONCLUSION: The CD14/-260 and CD14/-651 promoter polymorphisms are associated with atopy prevalence among young adults exposed to farm environments.

Analysis of BTNL2 genetic polymorphisms in British and Dutch patients with sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a heterogeneous disorder, both phenotypically and genetically. Two independent studies have recently shown that a functional polymorphism within butyrophilin-like 2 (BTNL2) gene predisposes to sarcoidosis independently of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 alleles. However, in both studies, data analysis was not stratified by Löfgren's syndrome, a clinically and genetically distinct sarcoidosis subset. BTNL2, potentially encoding an immune coreceptor, is adjacent and in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with HLA-DRB1. We investigated six BTNL2 variants, including the functional rs2076530 (G > A), as well as HLA-DRB1 alleles, by sequence-specific primers-polymerase chain reaction, in 288 patients and 446 controls from two European countries. In the patient group as a whole, the HLA-DRB1*14 [odds ratio (OR) = 3.1, P(c) = 0.0003], DRB1*12 (OR = 2.5, P(c) = 0.003), and BTNL2 rs2076530 A allele (OR = 1.49, P(c) = 0.002) were all associated with disease susceptibility. However, after exclusion of patients presenting with Löfgren's syndrome and after adjusting for HLA-DRB1 alleles, the association between BTNL2 rs2076530 A and disease disappeared (P = 0.23). By contrast, both HLA-DRB1*14 and DRB1*12 remained strongly significant (OR = 3.60, P < 0.0001 and OR = 3.03, P = 0.003, respectively). BTNL2 haplotype 4, tagged by the rs2076530 G allele, also remained associated with non-Löfgren sarcoidosis after adjusting for HLA-DRB1 alleles (OR 0.37, P = 0.016). In summary, HLA-DRB1*14, DRB1*12, and BTNL2 haplotype 4--but not rs2076530 A--are associated with non-Löfgren sarcoidosis. However, the tight LD across the HLA complex makes it difficult to identify the precise location of the susceptibility locus/i. Larger sample sets from different ethnic groups, finer mapping, and more robust LD analyses across the HLA region are needed.