Innate immunity alterations in idiopathic interstitial pneumonias and rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung diseases

• Published in: Immunology letters Vol. 163; no. 2; pp. 179 - 186
• Main Authors: Papanikolaou, Ilias C., Boki, Kyriaki A., Giamarellos-Bourboulis, Evangelos J., Kotsaki, Antigoni, Kagouridis, Konstantinos, Karagiannidis, Napoleon, Polychronopoulos, Vlasis S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.02.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Allergy and Immunology; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - immunology; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - metabolism; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - chemistry; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - immunology; Cells, Cultured; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias - immunology; Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias - metabolism; Immunity, Innate - immunology; Innate immunity; Interstitial lung diseases; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Lung - immunology; Lung - metabolism; Lung - pathology; Lung Diseases, Interstitial - immunology; Lung Diseases, Interstitial - metabolism; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins - immunology; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Middle Aged; Natural killer cells; Natural Killer T-Cells - immunology; Natural Killer T-Cells - metabolism; Prospective Studies; Pulmonary Fibrosis - immunology; Pulmonary Fibrosis - metabolism; Receptors, Immunologic - immunology; Receptors, Immunologic - metabolism; Rheumatoid arthritis; Toll-Like Receptor 2 - immunology; Toll-Like Receptor 2 - metabolism; Toll-Like Receptor 4 - immunology; Toll-Like Receptor 4 - metabolism; Toll-like receptors; Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - immunology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; ILD; IIP; RA-NSIP; COP; Interstitial lung diseases; Rheumatoid arthritis; Toll-like receptors; RA-UIP; Innate immunity; Natural killer cells; IPF; Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1; rheumatoid arthritis associated non specific interstitial pneumonia; idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; interstitial lung diseases; idiopathic interstitial pneumonias; cryptogenic organizing pneumonia; rheumatoid arthritis associated usual interstitial pneumonia
• ISSN: 0165-2478; 1879-0542; 1879-0542
• DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2014.12.004

This is a prospective cohort study elucidating innate immunity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), rheumatoid arthritis-associated usual interstitial pneumonia (RA-UIP) and RA-associated non specific interstitial pneumonia (RA-NSIP). 23 IPF subjects, 9 COP subjects, 5 RA-UIP subjects, 8 RA-NSIP subjects were enrolled. 10 subjects were excluded. 19 healthy subjects served as controls. Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were obtained. Natural killer (NK) and NKT cells, NK cells apoptosis and the expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells type 1 (TREM-1) were assessed. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production was measured in cell cultures after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS) and Pam3CysSK3, and in BAL. Surface expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and 4 on peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC's) and circulating NK cells was also assessed. RA-NSIP had low blood NKs, marginally insignificant (p=0.07). These NKs poorly produced TNF-α after LPS stimulation. TLR's expression on NK cells was similar throughout disease groups and controls. PBMC's mainly from IPF patients exhibited low TNF-α production after LPS stimulation but not after Pam3CysSK3 stimulation, while TLR4 expression on PBMC's was found normal in all study groups. TLR2 expression on PBMC's was increased in IPF, but mainly in COP, RA-UIP and RA-NSIP (p=0.015). TREM-1 expression was significant on COP monocytes and on COP neutrophils versus controls. RA-NSIP monocytes also exhibited TREM-1 expression (p=0.07). Decreased TNF-α concentration in BAL was finally observed in IPF and RA-UIP. Innate immunity in the lungs and the peripheral circulation in IPF and RA-UIP are similar and more fibrotic than in RA-NSIP which is characterized by NK cell depletion and dysfunction. TREM-1 and TLR's likely affect patterns of inflammation in various interstitial lung diseases.