Cited by 124Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisSystemic Sclerosis and Related DiseasesTransplantation: Methods and Outcomes

The distribution of immunomodulatory cells in the lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

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Nuovo, Gerard J, Hagood, James S, Magro, Cynthia M, Chin, Nena, Kapil, Rubina, Davis, Luke, Marsh, Clay B, Folcik, Virginia A·2012·Modern Pathology

Abstract

We have characterized the immune system involvement in the disease processes of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in novel ways. To do so, we analyzed lung tissue from 21 cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 21 (non-fibrotic, non-cancerous) controls for immune cell and inflammation-related markers. The immunohistochemical analysis of the tissue was grouped by patterns of severity in disease pathology. There were significantly greater numbers of CD68(+) and CD80(+) cells and significantly fewer CD3(+), CD4(+), and CD45RO(+) cells in areas of relatively (histologically) normal lung in biopsy samples from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients compared with controls. In zones of active disease, characterized by epithelial cell regeneration and fibrosis, there were significantly more cells expressing CD4, CD8, CD20, CD68, CD80, chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6), S100, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-α, and retinoic acid-related orphan receptors compared with histologically normal lung areas from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients. Inflammation was implicated in these active regions by the cells that expressed retinoid orphan receptor-α, -β, and -γ, CCR6, and IL-17. The regenerating epithelial cells predominantly expressed these pro-inflammatory molecules, as evidenced by co-expression analyses with epithelial cytokeratins. Macrophages in pseudo-alveoli and CD3(+) T cells in the fibrotic interstitium also expressed IL-17. Co-expression of IL-17 with retinoid orphan receptors and epithelial cytoskeletal proteins, CD68, and CD3 in epithelial cells, macrophages, and T-cells, respectively, confirmed the production of IL-17 by these cell types. There was little staining for forkhead box p3, CD56, or CD34 in any idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lung regions. The fibrotic regions had fewer immune cells overall. In summary, our study shows participation of innate and adaptive mononuclear cells in active-disease regions of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lung, where the regenerating epithelial cells appear to propagate inflammation. The regenerative mechanisms become skewed to ultimately result in lethal, fibrotic restriction of lung function.

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Authors
Nuovo, G. J., Hagood, J. S., Magro, C. M., Chin, N., Kapil, R., Davis, L., Marsh, C. B., & Folcik, V. A.
Affiliations
  • The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
Folcik, Virginia A
Venue
Modern Pathology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-03
Volume
25
Issue
3
Pages
416-433
ISSN
0893-3952 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2058059133
Cited by
123
References
103
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
FWCI
4.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Modern Pathology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Ohio State University
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL067176, R21HL093675)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Systemic Sclerosis and Related Diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Transplantation: Methods and Outcomes
Keywords
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, lung immunology, IL-17, CCR6, macrophages, T cells, epithelial regeneration, inflammation, fibrosis, CD68, CD80, CD45RO, S-100 protein, TNF-α
MeSH terms
Aged, Female, Fibrosis, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Inflammation, Macrophages, Male, Middle Aged, Antigens, CD, Respiratory Mucosa, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Adaptive Immunity, Immunomodulation, Alveolar Epithelial Cells

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