Evaluation of the Diagnostic Efficacies of Serological Markers KL-6, SP-A, SP-D, CCL2, and CXCL13 in Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serological markers Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), surfactant protein-A (SP-A), SP-D, chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), and chemokine 13 (CXCL13) in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP).
Patients with IIP aged 18-80 years from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were enrolled in this retrospective case-control study. Data on the general patient characteristics, laboratory test results, chest high-resolution CT, and pulmonary function test results were collected. The diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) was based on the international practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of IPF, a collaborative effort published by the American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Association (ERS), Japanese Respiratory Society, and Latin American Thoracic Society. The diagnostic criteria of non-IPF (N-IPF) followed the consensus classification of the IIPs, which was jointly issued by the ATS and ERS in 2002. The diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) was based on the official research statement on IPAF, which was jointly issued by the ATS and ERS in 2015. Serum levels of KL-6, SP-A, SP-D, CCL2, and CXCL13 were measured. The differences in the expression of these biomarkers and their correlation with the severity of the disease were analyzed. The sensitivity, specificity, cutoff value, and area under the curve (AUC) value for each of the indices were determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Between September 2015 and October 2017, 69 patients with IIP. Of these patients, 19 had IPF, 23 had N-IPF, and 27 had IPAF. We also enrolled 20 age- and gender-matched patients with pneumonia and 15 uninfected individuals as normal control. The serum levels of KL-6, SP-A, -SP-D, CCL2, and CXCL13 were significantly higher in patients with IIP than in patients with pneumonia and the normal controls. The detection of these markers was found to have better diagnostic efficacy in patients with IIP than in those with pneumonia. Of these markers above, KL-6 had the highest diagnostic value (AUC 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99). Based on a logistics regression analysis, the combination of KL-6, CCL2, and CXCL13 had an improved diagnostic efficacy for IIP. In patients with IIP, the serum levels of KL-6, SP-A, CCL2, and CXCL13 all showed a significant negative correlation with the diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO; r = -0.36, -0.37, -0.36, -0.30, respectively; all p < 0.05). Although their expression levels along with that of SP-D were elevated in patients with IPF, N-IPF, and IPAF, it was difficult to distinguish between these 3 conditions by detecting the 5 serum biomarkers together. Our findings indicate that the serum levels of KL-6, SP-A, SP-D, CCL2, and CXCL13 are notably elevated in patients with IIP and show significant correlation with the severity of interstitial lung lesions. Additionally, we further explore the diagnostic efficacy of 5 biomarkers in different types of IIP. It is the first time that the level of serum marker CXCL13 of N-IPF and IPAF patients was higher than IPF patients, which further enriched the study on serum markers for IIPs. Between September 2015 and October 2017, 69 patients with IIP. Of these patients, 19 had IPF, 23 had N-IPF, and 27 had IPAF. We also enrolled 20 age- and gender-matched patients with pneumonia and 15 uninfected individuals as normal control. The serum levels of KL-6, SP-A, SP-D, CCL2, and CXCL13 were significantly higher in patients with IIP than in patients with pneumonia and the normal controls. Of these markers above, KL-6 had the highest diagnostic value (AUC 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99). Based on a logistics regression analysis, the combination of KL-6, CCL2, and CXCL13 had an improved diagnostic efficacy for IIP. In patients with IIP, the serum levels of KL-6, SP-A, CCL2, and CXCL13 all showed a significant negative correlation with the DLCO (r = -0.36, -0.37, -0.36, -0.30, respectively; all p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that the serum levels of KL-6, -SP-A, SP-D, CCL2, and CXCL13 are notably elevated in patients with IIP and show significant correlation with the severity of interstitial lung lesions. Additionally, we further explore the diagnostic efficacy of 5 biomarkers in different types of IIP. It is the first time that the level of serum marker CXCL13 of N-IPF and IPAF patients was higher than IPF patients, which further enrich the study on serum markers in IIPs.
Although the combined detection of KL-6, CCL3, and CXCL13 significantly improves the diagnosis of IIP, detection of all the 5 markers together is unable to distinguish between IPF, N-IPF, and IPAF.
Xue M
,Guo Z
,Cai C
,Sun B
,Wang H
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Krebs von den Lungen-6 and surfactant protein-A in interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features.
Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) is a special subtype of interstitial lung disease that has received worldwide attention. Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) and surfactant protein-A (SP-A) can be used as an important biomarker of interstitial lung disease, but its exact relationship with IPAF is poorly understood.A total of 65 IPAF patients were included in the study and were followed up for 52 weeks. The KL-6 and SP-A were evaluated by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay. The above indicators were tested at 2 time points, baseline (the first admission of patients) and 52 weeks. We also collected the indicators of antinuclear antibodies and rheumatoid factor. Based on high-resolution computed tomography evaluations, patients were divided into: aggravation, stable, and improvement group. At same time, 30 age-matched normal people as normal control were recruited, the same information was collected. Correlations among the groups were compared and analyzed.The KL-6 and SP-A level in IPAF patients were significantly higher than normal controls (fold increase = 11.35 and 1.39, both P < .001) and differed significantly at baseline and 52 weeks in IPAF (difference ratio = 37.7% and 21.3%, P < .05, both). There were significant differences at baseline and 52 weeks (r values of aggravation, improvement, and stable groups for KL-6 were 0.705, 0.770, and 0.344, P = .001, .001, and .163, and for SP-A the r value were 0.672, 0.375, and 0.316, P = .001, .126, and .152). In aggravation group, KL-6 and SP-A were correlated with CT scores (both P < .05). Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and forced vital capacity (FVC), % predicted showed a progressive downward trend, with a significant difference at baseline and 52 weeks in IPAF patients (difference ratio = 23.8% and 20.6%, both P < .05). There was a significant correlation between KL-6 and FVC % predicted and DLCO (both P < .05), SP-A showed negatively correlated with DLCO, but not significantly correlated with FVC % predicted (P < .05 and .47).This study demonstrated that KL-6 and SP-A can reflect disease progression, and both 2 play a key role at reflection of lung epithelial cell injury and fibrosis degree in IPAF.
Xue M
,Cai C
,Zeng Y
,Xu Y
,Chen H
,Hu H
,Zhou L
,Sun B
... -
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Prognostic performance of Krebs von den Lungen-6, surfactant protein A, surfactant protein D levels in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in chronic fibrosing interstitial pneumonia: a retrospective study.
The serum markers Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), surfactant protein A (SP-A), and surfactant protein D (SP-D) have been used for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and prognosis prediction of interstitial pneumonia. However, the significance of measuring the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) KL-6, SP-D, and SP-A levels in predicting the prognosis of chronic fibrosing interstitial pneumonia (CFIP), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia remains unclear. We aimed to clarify the significance of measuring the serum and BALF KL-6, SP-A, and SP-D levels in predicting the prognosis of patients with CFIP.
Among 173 patients who were diagnosed with CFIP between September 2008 and February 2021, 39 who underwent bronchoalveolar lavage were included in this study. Among these, patients experiencing an annual decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC) of ≥10% or those facing challenges in undergoing follow-up pulmonary function tests owing to significant deterioration in pulmonary function were categorized as the rapidly progress group. Conversely, individuals with an annual decrease in the FVC of <10% were classified into the slowly progress group. The serum and BALF KL-6, SP-D, and SP-A levels, as well as BALF/serum SP-D and SP-A ratios were compared between the two groups.
Among the patients with CFIP, the BALF SP-D level (p=0.0111), BALF SP-A level (p<0.0010), BALF/serum SP-D ratio (p=0.0051), and BALF/serum SP-A ratio (p<0.0010) were significantly lower in the rapidly than in the slowly progress group (p<0.0010). The receiver operating characteristics analysis results demonstrated excellent performance for diagnosing patients with CFIP, with the BALF SP-D level (area under the curve [AUC], 0.7424), BALF SP-A level (AUC, 0.8842), BALF/serum SP-D ratio (AUC, 0.7673), and BALF/serum SP-A ratio (AUC, 0.8556). Moreover, the BALF SP-A level showed a notably superior CFIP diagnostic capability. Survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method revealed that patients with a BALF SP-A level of <1500 ng/mL and BALF/serum SP-A ratio of <15.0 had poor prognoses.
Our results suggest that BALF SP-A measurement may be useful for predicting the prognosis in patients with CFIP.
Wakamatsu K
,Nagata N
,Kumazoe H
,Hara M
,Asai S
,Noda N
,Kiyotani R
,Fukui I
,Tatsuta M
,Katahira K
,Akasaki T
,Maki S
,Miyamoto K
,Otsuka J
,Izumi M
,Kawasaki M
,Yamada H
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《BMC Pulmonary Medicine》