Role of BAL and Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) in Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis

<b>Background:</b> Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) encompass a diverse group of disorders affecting the lung interstitium, leading to inflammation, fibrosis, and impaired respiratory function. Currently, the identification of new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for ILDs turns out...

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Main Authors: Piera Soccio, Giorgia Moriondo, Miriana d’Alessandro, Giulia Scioscia, Laura Bergantini, Sara Gangi, Pasquale Tondo, Maria Pia Foschino Barbaro, Paolo Cameli, Elena Bargagli, Donato Lacedonia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-01-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/2/269
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author Piera Soccio
Giorgia Moriondo
Miriana d’Alessandro
Giulia Scioscia
Laura Bergantini
Sara Gangi
Pasquale Tondo
Maria Pia Foschino Barbaro
Paolo Cameli
Elena Bargagli
Donato Lacedonia
author_facet Piera Soccio
Giorgia Moriondo
Miriana d’Alessandro
Giulia Scioscia
Laura Bergantini
Sara Gangi
Pasquale Tondo
Maria Pia Foschino Barbaro
Paolo Cameli
Elena Bargagli
Donato Lacedonia
author_sort Piera Soccio
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) encompass a diverse group of disorders affecting the lung interstitium, leading to inflammation, fibrosis, and impaired respiratory function. Currently, the identification of new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for ILDs turns out to be necessary. Several studies show the role of KL-6 in various types of interstitial lung disease and suggest that serum KL-6 levels can be used as a prognostic marker of disease. The aim of this study was to analyze KL-6 expression either in serum or bronchoalveolar lavage samples in order to: (i) make a serum vs. BAL comparison; (ii) better understand the local behavior of fibrosis vs. the systemic one; and (iii) evaluate any differences in patients with progressive fibrosis (PPF) versus patients with non-progressive fibrosis (nPPF). <b>Methods:</b> We used qRT-PCR to detect KL-6 expression both in serum and BAL samples. Mann–Whitney’s U test was used to compare the differential expression between groups. <b>Results:</b> In serum, KL-6 is more highly expressed in PPF than in non-progressive fibrosis (<i>p</i> = 0.0295). This difference is even more significant in BAL (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Therefore, it is clear that KL-6 values are related to disease progression. Significant differences were found by making a comparison between BAL and serum. KL-6 was markedly higher in serum than BAL (<i>p</i> = 0.0146). <b>Conclusions:</b> This study identifies KL-6 as a promising biomarker for the severity of the fibrosing process and disease progression in ILDs, with significantly higher levels observed in PPF compared to nPPF. Moreover, the marked difference in KL-6 levels between serum and BAL emphasizes its potential diagnostic and prognostic relevance, providing enlightening insights into both the local and systemic aspects of ILDs.
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spelling doaj.art-911266d259254e99bca5d5d3cf779e512024-02-23T15:08:20ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592024-01-0112226910.3390/biomedicines12020269Role of BAL and Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) in Patients with Pulmonary FibrosisPiera Soccio0Giorgia Moriondo1Miriana d’Alessandro2Giulia Scioscia3Laura Bergantini4Sara Gangi5Pasquale Tondo6Maria Pia Foschino Barbaro7Paolo Cameli8Elena Bargagli9Donato Lacedonia10Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyRespiratory Diseases and Lung Transplantation Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences & Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyRespiratory Diseases and Lung Transplantation Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences & Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyRespiratory Diseases and Lung Transplantation Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences & Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyRespiratory Diseases and Lung Transplantation Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences & Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy<b>Background:</b> Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) encompass a diverse group of disorders affecting the lung interstitium, leading to inflammation, fibrosis, and impaired respiratory function. Currently, the identification of new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for ILDs turns out to be necessary. Several studies show the role of KL-6 in various types of interstitial lung disease and suggest that serum KL-6 levels can be used as a prognostic marker of disease. The aim of this study was to analyze KL-6 expression either in serum or bronchoalveolar lavage samples in order to: (i) make a serum vs. BAL comparison; (ii) better understand the local behavior of fibrosis vs. the systemic one; and (iii) evaluate any differences in patients with progressive fibrosis (PPF) versus patients with non-progressive fibrosis (nPPF). <b>Methods:</b> We used qRT-PCR to detect KL-6 expression both in serum and BAL samples. Mann–Whitney’s U test was used to compare the differential expression between groups. <b>Results:</b> In serum, KL-6 is more highly expressed in PPF than in non-progressive fibrosis (<i>p</i> = 0.0295). This difference is even more significant in BAL (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Therefore, it is clear that KL-6 values are related to disease progression. Significant differences were found by making a comparison between BAL and serum. KL-6 was markedly higher in serum than BAL (<i>p</i> = 0.0146). <b>Conclusions:</b> This study identifies KL-6 as a promising biomarker for the severity of the fibrosing process and disease progression in ILDs, with significantly higher levels observed in PPF compared to nPPF. Moreover, the marked difference in KL-6 levels between serum and BAL emphasizes its potential diagnostic and prognostic relevance, providing enlightening insights into both the local and systemic aspects of ILDs.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/2/269IPFKL-6progressionprogressive fibrosisnon-progressive fibrosisbiomarkers
spellingShingle Piera Soccio
Giorgia Moriondo
Miriana d’Alessandro
Giulia Scioscia
Laura Bergantini
Sara Gangi
Pasquale Tondo
Maria Pia Foschino Barbaro
Paolo Cameli
Elena Bargagli
Donato Lacedonia
Role of BAL and Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) in Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis
Biomedicines
IPF
KL-6
progression
progressive fibrosis
non-progressive fibrosis
biomarkers
title Role of BAL and Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) in Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis
title_full Role of BAL and Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) in Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis
title_fullStr Role of BAL and Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) in Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis
title_full_unstemmed Role of BAL and Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) in Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis
title_short Role of BAL and Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) in Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis
title_sort role of bal and serum krebs von den lungen 6 kl 6 in patients with pulmonary fibrosis
topic IPF
KL-6
progression
progressive fibrosis
non-progressive fibrosis
biomarkers
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/2/269
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