Abstract Purpose Interstitial lung disease is a common extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA-ILD) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, limited data ...exist regarding predictors of mortality. We sought to examine the prognostic value of the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) patterns in patients with RA-ILD. Materials and methods RA-ILD patients with HRCT patterns of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) or nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) were identified among a longitudinal cohort of individuals evaluated at National Jewish Health. A total of 158 subjects were included in the study. For each subject, the earliest available HRCT was reviewed independently by two expert thoracic radiologists blinded to clinical data. HRCT patterns were classified as demonstrating definite UIP, possible UIP, or NSIP. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated and survival was compared among the three patterns using a log rank test for trend. Results One hundred subjects (63%) had HRCT findings classified as definite UIP, 23 (15%) as possible UIP and 35 (22%) as NSIP. No difference in survival was seen between subjects with definite UIP versus those with possible UIP. The combined group of subjects with either definite- or possible UIP had significantly worse survival than those with NSIP (log-rank p = 0.03). Conclusions In patients with RA-ILD, patients with either definite UIP or possible UIP have equally poor survival when compared to those with an NSIP pattern.
Background Lymphangiogenesis responds to tissue injury as a key component of normal wound healing. The development of fibrosis in the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias may result from abnormal wound ...healing in response to injury. We hypothesize that increased lymphatic vessel (LV) length, a marker of lymphangiogenesis, is associated with parenchymal components of the fibroblast reticulum (organizing collagen, fibrotic collagen, and fibroblast foci), and its extent correlates with disease severity. Methods We assessed stereologically the parenchymal structure of fibrotic lungs and its associated lymphatic network, which was highlighted immunohistochemically in age-matched samples of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) with FVC < 80%, COPD with a Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease stage 0, and normal control lungs. Results LV length density, as opposed to vessel volume density, was found to be associated with organizing and fibrotic collagen density ( P < .0001). Length density of LVs and the volume density of organizing and fibrotic collagen were significantly associated with severity of both % FVC ( P < .001) and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide ( P < .001). Conclusions Severity of disease in UIP and NSIP is associated with increased LV length and is strongly associated with components of the fibroblast reticulum, namely organizing and fibrotic collagen, which supports a pathogenic role of LVs in these two diseases. Furthermore, the absence of definable differences between UIP and NSIP suggests that LVs are a unifying mechanism for the development of fibrosis in these fibrotic lung diseases.
Background Sialic acid–binding, immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglec) F is a glycan-binding protein selectively expressed on mouse eosinophils. Its engagement induces apoptosis, suggesting a pathway ...for ameliorating eosinophilia in the setting of asthma and other eosinophil-associated diseases. Siglec-F recognizes sialylated sulfated glycans in glycan-binding assays, but the identities of endogenous sialoside ligands and their glycoprotein carriers in vivo are unknown. Objectives To use mouse lung-derived materials to isolate, biochemically identify, and biologically characterize naturally occurring endogenous glycan ligands for Siglec-F. Methods Lungs from normal and mucin-deficient mice, as well as mouse tracheal epithelial cells, were investigated in vitro and in vivo for the expression of Siglec-F ligands. Western blotting and cytochemistry used Siglec-F-Fc as a probe for directed purification, followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry of recognized glycoproteins. Purified components were tested in mouse eosinophil-binding assays and flow cytometry–based cell death assays. Results We detected mouse lung glycoproteins that bound to Siglec-F; binding was sialic acid dependent. Proteomic analysis of Siglec-F binding material identified Muc5b and Muc4. Cross-affinity enrichment and histochemical analysis of lungs from mucin-deficient mice assigned and validated the identity of Muc5b as one glycoprotein ligand for Siglec-F. Purified mucin preparations carried sialylated and sulfated glycans, bound to eosinophils and induced their death in vitro . Mice conditionally deficient in Muc5b displayed exaggerated eosinophilic inflammation in response to intratracheal installation of IL-13. Conclusions These data identify a previously unrecognized endogenous anti-inflammatory property of airway mucins by which their glycans can control lung eosinophilia through engagement of Siglec-F.
Critical care medicine for the hospitalist Linderman, Derek J; Janssen, William J
The Medical clinics of North America,
03/2008, Letnik:
92, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The aim of this article is to review some of the important topics in critical care medicine, including the latest management recommendations for sepsis, the use of noninvasive ventilation in ...respiratory failure, and practice guidelines for transfusion in critically ill patients.