Neutrophils and Lymphocytes: Yin and Yang of Lung Fibrosis and Patient Outcome in Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases

Antifibrotics can improve the outcome of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (F-ILDs), but predictive biomarkers at diagnosis are needed to guide the use of immunomodulating and antifibrotic therapies. Methods: Flow cytometry quantificatio...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Novoa Bolivar, Erika María, Ros Lucas, José Antonio, Pérez Fernández, Sonia, Campillo Marquina, José Antonio, López Hernandez, Ruth, González López, Rosana, Otalora Alcaraz, Almudena, Ortuño Hernandez, Cristina, Gimeno Arias, Lourdes, Ruiz Lorente, Inmaculada, Ceballos Francisco, Diana, Muro Amador, Manuel, Martínez Camblor, Pablo, Minguela Puras, Alfredo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM)
Repositorio:RIUCAM. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.ucam.edu:10952/10815
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10952/10815
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Interstitial Lung Disease
Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Neutrophil Lymphocytes ratio
Descripción
Sumario:Antifibrotics can improve the outcome of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (F-ILDs), but predictive biomarkers at diagnosis are needed to guide the use of immunomodulating and antifibrotic therapies. Methods: Flow cytometry quantification of lymphocytes and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of 145 IPFs, 561 non-IPF-ILDs (125 F-ILDs), and 112 BAL controls were retrospectively correlated with the incidence of fibrosis and third-quartile overall survival (Q3–OS). Results: The incidence of IPF was directly proportional (9.6%, 22.2%, and 42.6%, p < 0.001) to BAL neutrophil counts (<5%, 5–15%, and >15%), but inversely proportional (34.1%, 18.6%, and 8.8%, p < 0.001) to BAL lymphocyte counts (<7%, 7–20%, and >20%). Elevated neutrophils (>5%) with low lymphocytes (<7%) were associated with an increasingly higher incidence of IPF (10.0–56.3%, p < 0.001) in patients aged 40 to 80, compared to the rest of patients (13.0–17.1%). Lymphocytes >20% compared to lymphocytes <7% strongly protected patients with neutrophils >15% (59.7% vs. 20.7%, p < 0.001) from IPF. In contrast, the incidence of F-ILD was not clearly related to BAL lymphocyte/neutrophil counts. Although, IPF and F-ILD showed a shorter Q3–OS (1.8 ± 0.3 and 4.6 ± 0.8 years; p < 0.001) than non-fibrotic-ILDs (11.1 ± 1.3 years), lymphocyte and neutrophil counts were associated with a longer and shorter Q3–OS of non-fibrotic-ILDs (p < 0.03) and F-ILDs (p < 0.04), respectively, but not with a Q3–OS of IPF patients (p < 0.708). Corticosteroids in patients with fibrosis showed a shorter Q3–OS than other immunomodulators (2.4 ± 0.3 vs. 4.0 ± 1.8 years, p = 0.011). Conclusions: Accurate counting of BAL lymphocytes and neutrophils by flow cytometry in ILD patients at diagnosis could help guide immunomodulatory and antifibrotic therapies.