open access

Vol 49, No 4 (2011)
Original paper
Submitted: 2012-01-16
Published online: 2012-01-16
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Enhanced expression of Fas Ligand (FasL) in the lower airways of patients with fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs)

Piotr Kopiński, Barbara Balicka-Ślusarczyk, Andrzej Dyczek, Adam Szpechciński, Grzegorz Przybylski, Agnieszka Jarzemska, Tomasz Wandtke, Marek Jankowski, Teresa Iwaniec, Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko
DOI: 10.5603/FHC.2011.0087
·
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2011;49(4):636-645.

open access

Vol 49, No 4 (2011)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2012-01-16
Published online: 2012-01-16

Abstract

The exact role of FasL, and particularly its soluble and membrane-bound forms, in the development of chronic ILDs and lung fibrosis has not been extensively explored. We aimed at analyzing membrane-bound FasL expression on alveolar macrophages (AM) and lymphocytes (AL) as well as soluble FasL (sFasL) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from ILDs patients, incl. pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), silicosis, asbestosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), and healthy subjects (n = 89, 12, 7, 8, 23, 6, 17, respectively). In IPF, significantly increased percentage of AM FasL+ and CD8+FasL+ cells as well as sFasL levels in BAL were found. Increased sFasL levels were also observed in HP. NSIP and asbestosis were characterized by higher AM FasL+ relative number; CD8+FasL+ population was expanded in asbestosis only. There was a significant decline in AL FasL+ percentage in PS and HP. Vital capacity was negatively correlated with sFasL levels, AM FasL+ and CD8+FasL+ cell relative count. CD4+FasL+ and CD8+FasL+ percentage strongly correlated with BAL neutrophilia, an unfavorable prognostic factor in lung fibrosis. The concurrent comparative BAL analysis of FasL expression indicates that FasL+ AM and AL (mainly Tc cells) comprise an important element of the fibrotic process, mostly in IPF. FasL might play a crucial role in other fibrosis-complicated ILDs, like NSIP and asbestosis. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 636–645)

Abstract

The exact role of FasL, and particularly its soluble and membrane-bound forms, in the development of chronic ILDs and lung fibrosis has not been extensively explored. We aimed at analyzing membrane-bound FasL expression on alveolar macrophages (AM) and lymphocytes (AL) as well as soluble FasL (sFasL) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from ILDs patients, incl. pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), silicosis, asbestosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), and healthy subjects (n = 89, 12, 7, 8, 23, 6, 17, respectively). In IPF, significantly increased percentage of AM FasL+ and CD8+FasL+ cells as well as sFasL levels in BAL were found. Increased sFasL levels were also observed in HP. NSIP and asbestosis were characterized by higher AM FasL+ relative number; CD8+FasL+ population was expanded in asbestosis only. There was a significant decline in AL FasL+ percentage in PS and HP. Vital capacity was negatively correlated with sFasL levels, AM FasL+ and CD8+FasL+ cell relative count. CD4+FasL+ and CD8+FasL+ percentage strongly correlated with BAL neutrophilia, an unfavorable prognostic factor in lung fibrosis. The concurrent comparative BAL analysis of FasL expression indicates that FasL+ AM and AL (mainly Tc cells) comprise an important element of the fibrotic process, mostly in IPF. FasL might play a crucial role in other fibrosis-complicated ILDs, like NSIP and asbestosis. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 636–645)
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Keywords

Fas Ligand; alveolar lymphocytes; bronchoalveolar lavage; interstitial lung diseases; lung fibrosis

About this article
Title

Enhanced expression of Fas Ligand (FasL) in the lower airways of patients with fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs)

Journal

Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica

Issue

Vol 49, No 4 (2011)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

636-645

Published online

2012-01-16

Page views

2179

Article views/downloads

2602

DOI

10.5603/FHC.2011.0087

Bibliographic record

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2011;49(4):636-645.

Keywords

Fas Ligand
alveolar lymphocytes
bronchoalveolar lavage
interstitial lung diseases
lung fibrosis

Authors

Piotr Kopiński
Barbara Balicka-Ślusarczyk
Andrzej Dyczek
Adam Szpechciński
Grzegorz Przybylski
Agnieszka Jarzemska
Tomasz Wandtke
Marek Jankowski
Teresa Iwaniec
Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko

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