Increased levels of hyaluronic acid in bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with interstitial lung disease.

G. M. ERNST; CORDO RUSSO R. I.; LOMPARDÍA S. L.; AUTERI S.; GALINDEZ F.; ÁLVAREZ É.; GRYNBLAT P; HAJOS S. E.

Washington DC

Congreso; FOCIS 2011; 2011

Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS)

Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are an heterogeneuos group of illnesses characterized by parenchymal and inflammation alterations. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is the main component of the extracellular matrix with functions that vary according to size. HA interaction with CD44 induces cell migration while interaction with Toll-like receptors promotes synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines. Our aims were to determine the concentration of HA in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from ILD patients and evaluate the role of HA as a chemotactic agent for BAL cells. Patients samples with ILD were taken by bronchoscopy to confirm diagnosis. BAL samples from healthy lungs, after surgery for tracheal stenosis were used as controls. HA levels were increased in BAL samples of IDL patients (2037±171 vs 672.1±39.7) ng/ml (p<0.001) and in serum, compared with controls (796.85 ± 6.82 vs 143.70±13.0)ng/ml (p<0.05). A significant increase in BAL total number of cells was found in ILD patients vs controls (0.52 ± 0.08 vs 0.15 ± 0.02) x 106 cells/ml. The expression of CD44 on BAL cells and on ILD patients showed increased percentage of CD44+ cells vs controls (22.5% vs 14.1%, p <0.05). Chemotaxis of BAL cells towards HMW-HA and LMW-HA were evaluated. Both groups, patients and control cells showed enhanced migration towards HA-LMW compared with RPMI 1640 (1.95 ±0.19 and 1.49±0.05 vs 1, p<0.05) but not towards HA-HMW (1.02±0.16 and 1.05±0.05). Pretreatment with anti-CD44 Mab decreased migration towards LMW-HA (p<0.001). In summary a significant increase in HA levels, CD44 expression and cells number in BAL from ILD patients were found, proposing HA measurement as a good marker for diagnosis.