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Kim WD, Sin DD. Granzyme B May Act as an Effector Molecule to Control the Inflammatory Process in COPD. COPD 2024; 21:1-11. [PMID: 38314671 DOI: 10.1080/15412555.2023.2299104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is caused by smoking, but only a small proportion of smokers have disease severe enough to develop COPD. COPD is not always progressive. The question then arises as to what explains the different trajectories of COPD. The role of autoimmunity and regulatory T (Treg) cells in the pathogenesis of COPD is increasingly being recognized. Nine published studies on Treg cells in the lung tissue or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid have shown that smokers with COPD have fewer Treg cells than smokers without COPD or nonsmokers. Three studies showed a positive correlation between Treg cell count and FEV1%, suggesting an important role for Treg cells in COPD progression. Treg cells can regulate immunological responses via the granzyme B (GzmB) pathway. Immunohistochemical staining for GzmB in surgically resected lungs with centrilobular emphysema showed that the relationship between the amount of GzmB+ cells and FEV1% was comparable to that between Treg cell count and FEV1% in the COPD lung, suggesting that GzmB could be a functional marker for Treg cells. The volume fraction of GzmB+ cells in the small airways, the number of alveolar GzmB+ cells, and GzmB expression measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the lung tissue of smokers were significantly correlated with FEV1%. These results suggest that the GzmB content in lung tissue may determine the progression of COPD by acting as an effector molecule to control inflammatory process. Interventions to augment GzmB-producing immunosuppressive cells in the early stages of COPD could help prevent or delay COPD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Dong Kim
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Don D Sin
- Center for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Uemasu K, Nyunoya T. A case report of Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome associated with severe airway obstruction in a 62-year-old female smoker. Respirol Case Rep 2024; 12:e01327. [PMID: 38523622 PMCID: PMC10960519 DOI: 10.1002/rcr2.1327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) typically does not manifest airway obstruction despite the presence of multiple lung cysts. However, the long-term effects of cigarette smoking on lung function among individuals with BHD are unknown. We report a case of a smoking individual diagnosed with BHD syndrome complicated by spontaneous pneumothorax and severe airway obstruction. The patient presented with chronic dyspnea and productive cough. Further work-up revealed severe obstructive airflow limitation, and multiple lung cysts in both lungs, accompanied centrilobular emphysematous changes. Genetic testing confirmed a heterozygous deletion of exons 6-8 in the folliculin gene, confirming the diagnosis of BHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoshi Uemasu
- Department of MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Toru Nyunoya
- Department of MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
- Medical Specialty Service LineVeterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare SystemPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
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Rojas-Quintero J, Ochsner SA, New F, Divakar P, Yang CX, Wu TD, Robinson J, Chandrashekar DS, Banovich NE, Rosas IO, Sauler M, Kheradmand F, Gaggar A, Margaroli C, San Jose Estepar R, McKenna NJ, Polverino F. Spatial Transcriptomics Resolve an Emphysema-Specific Lymphoid Follicle B Cell Signature in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2024; 209:48-58. [PMID: 37934672 PMCID: PMC10870877 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202303-0507le] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Within chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema is characterized by a significant yet partially understood B cell immune component. Objectives: To characterize the transcriptomic signatures from lymphoid follicles (LFs) in ever-smokers without COPD and patients with COPD with varying degrees of emphysema. Methods: Lung sections from 40 patients with COPD and ever-smokers were used for LF proteomic and transcriptomic spatial profiling. Formalin- and O.C.T.-fixed lung samples obtained from biopsies or lung explants were assessed for LF presence. Emphysema measurements were obtained from clinical chest computed tomographic scans. High-confidence transcriptional target intersection analyses were conducted to resolve emphysema-induced transcriptional networks. Measurements and Main Results: Overall, 115 LFs from ever-smokers and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 1-2 and GOLD 3-4 patients were analyzed. No LFs were found in never-smokers. Differential gene expression analysis revealed significantly increased expression of LF assembly and B cell marker genes in subjects with severe emphysema. High-confidence transcriptional analysis revealed activation of an abnormal B cell activity signature in LFs (q-value = 2.56E-111). LFs from patients with GOLD 1-2 COPD with emphysema showed significantly increased expression of genes associated with antigen presentation, inflammation, and B cell activation and proliferation. LFs from patients with GOLD 1-2 COPD without emphysema showed an antiinflammatory profile. The extent of centrilobular emphysema was significantly associated with genes involved in B cell maturation and antibody production. Protein-RNA network analysis showed that LFs in emphysema have a unique signature skewed toward chronic B cell activation. Conclusions: An off-targeted B cell activation within LFs is associated with autoimmune-mediated emphysema pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott A. Ochsner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Felicia New
- Spatial Data Analysis Services, Nanostring Biotechnologies, Seattle, Washington
| | - Prajan Divakar
- Spatial Data Analysis Services, Nanostring Biotechnologies, Seattle, Washington
| | - Chen Xi Yang
- Center for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Jerid Robinson
- Field Application Scientists, Nanostring Biotechnologies, Seattle, Washington
| | | | | | | | - Maor Sauler
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Farrah Kheradmand
- Pulmonary Division, Department of Medicine, and
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Amit Gaggar
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and
- Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama; and
| | - Camilla Margaroli
- Pathology – Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Raul San Jose Estepar
- Applied Chest Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Neil J. McKenna
- Spatial Data Analysis Services, Nanostring Biotechnologies, Seattle, Washington
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