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Wijsman PC, Goorsenberg AWM, d'Hooghe JNS, Weersink EJM, Fenn DW, Maitland van der Zee AH, Annema JT, Brinkman P, Bonta PI. Exhaled breath analyses for bronchial thermoplasty in severe asthma patients. Respir Med 2024; 225:107583. [PMID: 38447787 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2024.107583] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a bronchoscopic treatment for severe asthma. Although multiple trials have demonstrated clinical improvement after BT, optimal patient selection remains a challenge and the mechanism of action is incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to examine whether exhaled breath analysis can contribute to discriminate between BT-responders and non-responders at baseline and to explore pathophysiological insights of BT. METHODS Exhaled breath was collected from patients at baseline and six months post-BT. Patients were defined as responders or non-responders based on a half point increase in asthma quality of life questionnaire scores. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detection and analyses. Analytical workflow consisted of: 1) detection of VOCs that differentiate between responders and non-responders and those that differ between baseline and six months post-BT, 2) identification of VOCs of interest and 3) explore correlations between clinical biomarkers and VOCs. RESULTS Data was available from 14 patients. Nonanal, 2-ethylhexanol and 3-thujol showed a significant difference in intensity between responders and non-responders at baseline (p = 0.04, p = 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). After BT, no difference was found in the compound intensity of these VOCs. A negative correlation was observed between nonanal and IgE and BALF eosinophils (r = -0.68, p < 0.01 and r = -0.61, p = 0.02 respectively) and 3-thujol with BALF neutrophils (r = -0.54, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS This explorative study identified discriminative VOCs in exhaled breath between BT responders and non-responders at baseline. Additionally, correlations were found between VOC's and inflammatory BALF cells. Once validated, these findings encourage research in breath analysis as a non-invasive easy to apply technique for identifying airway inflammatory profiles and eligibility for BT or immunotherapies in severe asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieta C Wijsman
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Annika W M Goorsenberg
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Julia N S d'Hooghe
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Els J M Weersink
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dominic W Fenn
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Jouke T Annema
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Paul Brinkman
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Peter I Bonta
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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Wijsman PC, Goorsenberg AWM, d'Hooghe JNS, Ten Hacken NHT, J T H Roelofs J, Mauad T, Weersink EJM, Shah P, Annema JT, Bonta PI. Airway smooth muscle and long-term clinical efficacy following bronchial thermoplasty in severe asthma. Thorax 2024; 79:359-362. [PMID: 38346871 PMCID: PMC10958325 DOI: 10.1136/thorax-2023-220967] [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] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The mechanism of action of bronchial thermoplasty (BT) treatment for patients with severe asthma is incompletely understood. This study investigated the 2.5-year impact of BT on airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass and clinical parameters by paired data analysis in 22 patients. Our findings demonstrate the persistence of ASM mass reduction of >50% after 2.5 years. Furthermore, sustained improvement in asthma control, quality of life and exacerbation rates was found, which is in line with previous reports. An association was found between the remaining ASM and both the exacerbation rate (r=0.61, p=0.04 for desmin, r=0.85, p<0.01 for alpha smooth muscle actin (SMA)) and post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s predicted percentage (r=-0.69, p=0.03 for desmin, r=-0.58, p=0.08 for alpha SMA). This study provides new insight into the long-term impact of BT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieta C Wijsman
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Julia N S d'Hooghe
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nick H T Ten Hacken
- Department of Pulmonology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Thais Mauad
- Pathology, São Paulo University Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Els J M Weersink
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pallav Shah
- Lung Unit, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation and Imperial College, London, UK
- Lung Unit, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Jouke T Annema
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter I Bonta
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Wijsman PC, Goorsenberg AWM, Keijzer N, d'Hooghe JNS, Ten Hacken NHT, Shah PL, Weersink EJM, de Brito JM, de Souza Xavier Costa N, Mauad T, Nawijn MC, Vonk JM, Annema JT, Burgess JK, Bonta PI. Airway wall extracellular matrix changes induced by bronchial thermoplasty in severe asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 153:435-446.e4. [PMID: 37805024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.09.035] [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: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Airway remodeling is a prominent feature of asthma, which involves increased airway smooth muscle mass and altered extracellular matrix composition. Bronchial thermoplasty (BT), a bronchoscopic treatment for severe asthma, targets airway remodeling. OBJECTIVE We sought to investigate the effect of BT on extracellular matrix composition and its association with clinical outcomes. METHODS This is a substudy of the TASMA trial. Thirty patients with severe asthma were BT-treated, of whom 13 patients were treated for 6 months with standard therapy (control group) before BT. Demographic data, clinical data including pulmonary function, and bronchial biopsies were collected. Biopsies at BT-treated and nontreated locations were analyzed by histological and immunohistochemical staining. Associations between histology and clinical outcomes were explored. RESULTS Six months after treatment, it was found that the reticular basement membrane thickness was reduced from 7.28 μm to 5.74 μm (21% relative reduction) and the percentage area of tissue positive for collagen increased from 26.3% to 29.8% (13% relative increase). Collagen structure analysis revealed a reduction in the curvature frequency of fibers. The percentage area positive for fibulin-1 and fibronectin increased by 2.5% and 5.9%, respectively (relative increase of 124% and 15%). No changes were found for elastin. The changes in collagen and fibulin-1 negatively associated with changes in FEV1 reversibility. CONCLUSIONS Besides reduction of airway smooth muscle mass, BT has an impact on reticular basement membrane thickness and the extracellular matrix arrangement characterized by an increase in tissue area occupied by collagen with a less dense fiber organization. Both collagen and fibulin-1 are negatively associated with the change in FEV1 reversibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieta C Wijsman
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annika W M Goorsenberg
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Noa Keijzer
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Julia N S d'Hooghe
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nick H T Ten Hacken
- Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Pallav L Shah
- Department of Pulmonology, Royal Brompton Hospital, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Pulmonology, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Els J M Weersink
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jôse Mara de Brito
- Departamento de Patologia, LIM-05 Laboratório de Patologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natalia de Souza Xavier Costa
- Departamento de Patologia, LIM-05 Laboratório de Patologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thais Mauad
- Departamento de Patologia, LIM-05 Laboratório de Patologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Martijn C Nawijn
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith M Vonk
- Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jouke T Annema
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Janette K Burgess
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter I Bonta
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Wijsman PC, Goorsenberg AWM, Ravi A, d’Hooghe JNS, Dierdorp BS, Dekker T, van Schaik CCLM, ten Hacken NHT, Shah PL, Weersink EJM, Bel EH, Annema JT, Lutter R, Bonta PI. Airway Inflammation Before and After Bronchial Thermoplasty in Severe Asthma. J Asthma Allergy 2022; 15:1783-1794. [PMID: 36560975 PMCID: PMC9767029 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s383418] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a bronchoscopic treatment for severe asthma, of which the working mechanism and responder profile are partly unknown. The aim of this study is to analyse whether BT alters airway inflammation by epithelial gene expression, inflammatory cell counts and cytokines, and whether this relates to treatment response. Methods In this clinical trial, 28 severe asthma patients underwent bronchoscopy before and after treatment to obtain bronchial brushes and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from treated and untreated airways. RNA was extracted from bronchial brushes for transcriptome analysis, and BALF cells and cytokines were analysed. Asthma quality of life questionnaires were used to distinguish responders from non-responders. We compared results before and after treatment, between treated and untreated airways, and between responders and non-responders. Results Gene expression of airway epithelium related to airway inflammation gene set was significantly downregulated in treated airways compared to untreated airways, although this did not differ for patients before and after treatment. No differences were observed in cell counts and cytokines, neither from the untreated compared to treated airways, nor before and after treatment. At baseline, compared to non-responders, the expression of genes related to glycolysis in bronchial epithelium was downregulated and both BALF and blood eosinophil counts were higher in responders. Conclusion Local differences in gene sets pertaining to epithelial inflammatory status were identified between treated and untreated airways after treatment, not resulting in changes in differential cell counts and cytokine analyses in BALF. Secondly, baseline epithelial glycolysis genes and eosinophil counts in BALF and blood were different between responders and non-responders. The observations from this study demonstrate the potential impact of BT on epithelial gene expression related to airway inflammation while also identifying a possible responder profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieta C Wijsman
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annika W M Goorsenberg
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Abilash Ravi
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands,Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Julia N S d’Hooghe
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Barbara S Dierdorp
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tamara Dekker
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Nick H T ten Hacken
- Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Pallav L Shah
- Department of Pulmonology, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK,National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK,Department of Pulmonology, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Els J M Weersink
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth H Bel
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jouke T Annema
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - René Lutter
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands,Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Peter I Bonta
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands,Correspondence: Peter I Bonta, Email
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Wijsman PC, Annema JT, Bonta PI. Knowledge gaps in the field of bronchial thermoplasty. Ann Transl Med 2022; 10:1087. [DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-4894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Wijsman PC, de Monyé W. [Unusual findings on chest x-ray]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2019; 163:D3306. [PMID: 30875157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We describe a 59-year-old woman, who came to the Emergency Room with fever, dyspnoea and lung abnormalities on chest x-ray. The X-ray abnormalities were not related to the clinical symptoms and could be explained by the patient's medical history, which included rib fractures and spinal compression fractures. The confined spherical structures visible on chest X-ray were indicative of previous rib fractures. The linear hyperdense branching structures represent diffuse pulmonary cement embolisms after percutaneous vertebroplasty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieta C Wijsman
- Spaarne Gasthuis, afd. Longziekten, Haarlem/Hoofddorp
- Contact: P.C. Wijsman
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