PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Andersson Sjoland, Annika
AU  - Larsson Callerfelt, Anna-Karin
AU  - Thiman, Lena
AU  - Hallgren, Oskar
AU  - Skog, Ingrid
AU  - Hansson, Lennart
AU  - Eriksson, Leif
AU  - Bjermer, Leif
AU  - Westergren-Thorsson, Gunilla
TI  - Prostacyclin and VEGF in the rejection process after lung transplantation – A possible biomarker
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA4040
DP  - 2016 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - PA4040
VI  - 48
IP  - suppl 60
4099  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/48/suppl_60/PA4040.short
4100  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/48/suppl_60/PA4040.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2016 Sep 01; 48
AB  - Many lung-transplanted (LTx) patients develop obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) with deposition of extracellular matrix, accompanied by fibrocyte infiltration and increased lumen of vessels. In this study we hypothesize that fibrocytes, VEGF and prostacyclin (PGI2) are involved in remodelling processes after LTx. We investigated TGF-β activated peripheral fibroblast phenotypes regarding production of VEGF165/PGI2. Fibrocytes and fibroblast phenotypes were identified by prolyl4-hydroxylase (p4OH), CD45, VEGFR2 or PGIR. VEGF production from fibroblasts after LTx significantly decreased 3mo after LTx compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). Fibroblasts from patients that had developed OB produced significant more VEGF after TGF-β stimulation compared to patients without BOS (p<0.05). The production of VEGF was negatively correlated with migratory properties of fibroblast (R-0.81, p<0.05). PGI2 synthesis was increased in LTx 6mo compared to 3mo postTPx (p<0.05) and controls (p<0.05). In a more detailed case study of 3 pat, two with and one without OB, the altered production of VEGF/PGI2 was associated with OB development. Both the number of fibroblasts expressing p4OH/VEGFR2 and p4OH/PGIR were increased in patients with OB compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). The number of p4OH/VEGFR2 fibroblasts correlated with lumen area of vessels (R0.80 p<0.001). Number of fibrocytes was correlated with fibroblasts expressing p4OH/VEGFR2 (R0.63 p<0.01). Remodelling of both the vascular and respiratory compartment plays an important role in the rejection process after LTx. Our results suggest that fibrocytes, PGI2/R and VEGF/R2 are altered and may contributeto the rejection process after LTx.