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. 2019 Aug 1;14(8):e0220462.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220462. eCollection 2019.

Serum CXCL9 and CCL17 as biomarkers of declining pulmonary function in chronic bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Yoshihisa Nukui  1 , Takashi Yamana  1 , Masahiro Masuo  1 , Tomoya Tateishi  1 , Mitsuhiro Kishino  2 , Ukihide Tateishi  2 , Makoto Tomita  3 , Takehiro Hasegawa  4 , Takashi Aritsu  4 , Yasunari Miyazaki  1
Affiliations

Serum CXCL9 and CCL17 as biomarkers of declining pulmonary function in chronic bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Yoshihisa Nukui et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The clinical course of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) with fibrosis is similar to that of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Current research is expected to identify biomarkers effective in predicting the deterioration of lung function in a clinical setting. Our group analyzed the relationships between the following parameters in chronic bird-related HP: patient characteristics, serum markers, lung function, HRCT findings, BALF profiles, and the worsening of lung function. We also analyzed serum levels of CXCL9, CCL17, and Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL-6) as serum markers. Patients showing declines in vital capacity (VC) of over 5% at 6 months after first admission were categorized as the "decline group"; the others were categorized as the "stable group." The serum level of CCL17 and the percentage of BALF macrophages were significantly higher in the decline group compared to the stable group. Serum levels of CXCL9 and CCL17 were significant variables in a multivariate logistic regression analysis of factors associated with VC decline. Patients with a chemokine profile combining lower serum CXCL9 and higher serum CCL17 exhibited significantly larger VC decline in a cluster analysis. Higher serum CCL17 and lower serum CXCL9 were important predictors of worsening lung function in patients with chronic bird-related HP.

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Conflict of interest statement

Yoshihisa Nukui, Takehiro Hasegawa and Yasunari Miyazaki are pending patent application belonging to Sysmex Corporation and Tokyo Medical and Dental University. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis of CXCL9 and CCL17 serum levels.
Cluster analysis was performed by complete linkage based on Euclidean distance. Red colors represent high cytokines levels and green colors represent low cytokines levels, respectively. By clustering analysis, the patients with chronic bird-related HP were divided into three groups (G1, G2 and G3).
Fig 2
Fig 2. VC and ΔVC were compared among three groups (G1, G2 and G3).
VC: vital capacity. The lines represent median and interquartile range. **: P < 0.01.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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