Cytokines, chemokines and growth factors concentration in BAL fluid from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP)

Introduction: Aberrant wound healing in respiratory epithelium and excessive extracellular matrix deposition in interstitium are the main pathogenic mechanisms leading to lung fibrosis. Protein mediators driving these phenomena are poor characterized. A number of serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) transcriptomic data is emerging, but it is uncertain whether changes in mRNA reflect those of the protein mediators.

Aim: To investigate cytokines, chemokines and growth factors concentration in BAL fluid from subjects with ILD.

Methods: We measured the concentrations of 54 chemokines, cytokines and growth factors in BAL fluid from 24 IPF and 24 NSIP patients and 14 non-ILD controls, by using a 54-V-PLEX Human Biomarker Kit (Mesoscale Discovery).

Results: Concentration of GM-CSF, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MCP-1, MDC, IL-7, IL-16 in BAL fluid from both IPF and NSIP patients tended to be higher compared to controls. In IPF patients, the two growth factors PIGF and Flt-1 were significantly higher than in controls. In NSIP patients, VEGF concentration was significantly reduced and inflammatory mediators ICAM-1, VCAM-1, eotaxin and IL-12/23p40 were significantly higher than in controls. No significant differences in mediators concentration between IPF and NSIP patients were seen.

Conclusion: A different mediators profile in BAL fluid from IPF and NSIP patients in comparison to non ILD controls has been found. The mediators profile in IPF and NSIP seems to overlap.