Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) shares the same features as aberrant wound healing, characterized by complex cellular and molecular alterations. Next to epithelial cells, endothelial cells (ECs) may play a key role in the pathogenesis of PF, however, detailed information on EC characteristics is missing. Here, we provide an analysis of vascular markers implicated in EC integrity and activation in PF lung tissue and plasma samples.
Expression levels of the surface markers CD31/PECAM1, VE-Cadherin/CDH5, von Willebrand Factor/VWF, thrombomodulin/THBD and VEGFR-2/KDR as well as activation markers intercellular adhesion molecule 1-3/ICAM1-ICAM3, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1/VCAM1 and P-Selectin/SELP were determined in PF (n=18) and donor lung tissue (n=19) by quantitative RT-PCR. Corresponding circulating levels were determined in plasma samples from PF patients (n=18) and controls (n=29) by ELISA.
Expression analysis revealed a downregulation of thrombomodulin, ICAM-2 and ICAM-3 in PF compared to control lung tissue (p=0.0500, p=0.0041, p=0.0015, respectively). In contrast, systemic levels of surface EC markers VE-Cadherin, thrombomodulin and VEGFR-2 were significantly decreased, while the activation markers ICAM-1, vWF and P-selectin were significantly increased. Soluble vWF and expression levels of CD31 and P-selectin were significantly correlated with a decrease in lung function (r=-0.39, p=0.018, r=-0.53, p=0.025, r=-0.78, p=0.04, respectively).
These results suggest that a dysregulated EC compartment is associated with restrictive lung function and gas exchange impairment in PF.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA2058.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021