Expression of PD-1/PD-L1 axis in mediastinal lymph nodes and lung tissue of human and experimental lung fibrosis indicates a potential therapeutic target for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

© 2023. The Author(s)..

BACKGROUND: Mediastinal lymph node enlargement is prevalent in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Studies investigating whether this phenomenon reflects specific immunologic activation are lacking.

METHODS: Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/ programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in mediastinal lymph nodes and lung tissues was analyzed. PD-1, PD-L1 mRNA expression was measured in tracheobronchial lymph nodes of mice following bleomycin-induced injury on day 14. Finally, the effect of the PD-1 inhibitor, pembrolizumab, in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis was investigated.

RESULTS: We analyzed mediastinal lymph nodes of thirty-three patients (n = 33, IPF: n = 14, lung cancer: n = 10, concomitant IPF and lung cancer: n = 9) and lung tissues of two hundred nineteen patients (n = 219, IPF: 123, controls: 96). PD-1 expression was increased, while PD-L1 expression was decreased, in mediastinal lymph nodes of patients with IPF compared to lung cancer and in IPF lungs compared to control lungs. Tracheobronchial lymph nodes isolated on day 14 from bleomycin-treated mice exhibited increased size and higher PD-1, PD-L1 mRNA levels compared to saline-treated animals. Pembrolizumab blunted bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, as indicated by reduction in Ashcroft score and improvement in respiratory mechanics.

CONCLUSIONS: Mediastinal lymph nodes of patients with IPF exhibit differential expression profiles than those of patients with lung cancer indicating distinct immune-mediated pathways regulating fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis. PD-1 expression in mediastinal lymph nodes is in line with lung tissue expression. Lower doses of pembrolizumab might exert antifibrotic effects. Clinical trials aiming to endotype patients based on mediastinal lymph node profiling and accordingly implement targeted therapies such as PD-1 inhibitors are greatly anticipated.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2023

Erschienen:

2023

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:24

Enthalten in:

Respiratory research - 24(2023), 1 vom: 14. Nov., Seite 279

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Karampitsakos, Theodoros [VerfasserIn]
Galaris, Apostolos [VerfasserIn]
Chrysikos, Serafeim [VerfasserIn]
Papaioannou, Ourania [VerfasserIn]
Vamvakaris, Ioannis [VerfasserIn]
Barbayianni, Ilianna [VerfasserIn]
Kanellopoulou, Paraskevi [VerfasserIn]
Grammenoudi, Sofia [VerfasserIn]
Anagnostopoulos, Nektarios [VerfasserIn]
Stratakos, Grigoris [VerfasserIn]
Katsaras, Matthaios [VerfasserIn]
Sampsonas, Fotios [VerfasserIn]
Dimakou, Katerina [VerfasserIn]
Manali, Effrosyni D [VerfasserIn]
Papiris, Spyridon [VerfasserIn]
Tourki, Bochra [VerfasserIn]
Juan-Guardela, Brenda M [VerfasserIn]
Bakakos, Petros [VerfasserIn]
Bouros, Demosthenes [VerfasserIn]
Herazo-Maya, Jose D [VerfasserIn]
Aidinis, Vassilis [VerfasserIn]
Tzouvelekis, Argyris [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

11056-06-7
B7-H1 Antigen
Bleomycin
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Journal Article
Lung cancer
Mediastinal lymph nodes
PD-1/PD-L1 axis
Pembrolizumab
Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
RNA, Messenger

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 16.11.2023

Date Revised 17.11.2023

published: Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1186/s12931-023-02551-x

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM364558768