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Ferrigno I, Verzellesi L, Ottone M, Bonacini M, Rossi A, Besutti G, Bonelli E, Colla R, Facciolongo N, Teopompi E, Massari M, Mancuso P, Ferrari AM, Pattacini P, Trojani V, Bertolini M, Botti A, Zerbini A, Giorgi Rossi P, Iori M, Salvarani C, Croci S. CCL18, CHI3L1, ANG2, IL-6 systemic levels are associated with the extent of lung damage and radiomic features in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Inflamm Res 2024:10.1007/s00011-024-01852-1. [PMID: 38308760 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-024-01852-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN We aimed to identify cytokines whose concentrations are related to lung damage, radiomic features, and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients. MATERIAL OR SUBJECTS Two hundred twenty-six patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and chest computed tomography (CT) images were enrolled. METHODS CCL18, CHI3L1/YKL-40, GAL3, ANG2, IP-10, IL-10, TNFα, IL-6, soluble gp130, soluble IL-6R were quantified in plasma samples using Luminex assays. The Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, correlation and regression analyses were performed. Mediation analyses were used to investigate the possible causal relationships between cytokines, lung damage, and outcomes. AVIEW lung cancer screening software, pyradiomics, and XGBoost classifier were used for radiomic feature analyses. RESULTS CCL18, CHI3L1, and ANG2 systemic levels mainly reflected the extent of lung injury. Increased levels of every cytokine, but particularly of IL-6, were associated with the three outcomes: hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and death. Soluble IL-6R showed a slight protective effect on death. The effect of age on COVID-19 outcomes was partially mediated by cytokine levels, while CT scores considerably mediated the effect of cytokine levels on outcomes. Radiomic-feature-based models confirmed the association between lung imaging characteristics and CCL18 and CHI3L1. CONCLUSION Data suggest a causal link between cytokines (risk factor), lung damage (mediator), and COVID-19 outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Ferrigno
- Unit of Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Advanced Biotechnologies, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- PhD Program in Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Laura Verzellesi
- Unit of Medical Physics, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Marta Ottone
- Unit of Epidemiology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Martina Bonacini
- Unit of Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Advanced Biotechnologies, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rossi
- Unit of Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Advanced Biotechnologies, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giulia Besutti
- Unit of Radiology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences With Interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Efrem Bonelli
- Unit of Radiology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Clinical Chemistry and Endocrinology Laboratory, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Rossana Colla
- Clinical Chemistry and Endocrinology Laboratory, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Nicola Facciolongo
- Unit of Respiratory Diseases, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Teopompi
- Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine Unit, Guastalla Hospital, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Marco Massari
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Pamela Mancuso
- Unit of Epidemiology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Ferrari
- Department of Emergency, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Pattacini
- Unit of Radiology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Valeria Trojani
- Unit of Medical Physics, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Marco Bertolini
- Unit of Medical Physics, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Andrea Botti
- Unit of Medical Physics, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zerbini
- Unit of Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Advanced Biotechnologies, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Paolo Giorgi Rossi
- Unit of Epidemiology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Mauro Iori
- Unit of Medical Physics, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Carlo Salvarani
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences With Interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Unit of Rheumatology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Stefania Croci
- Unit of Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Advanced Biotechnologies, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
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Höhne K, Wagenknecht A, Maier C, Engelhard P, Goldmann T, Schließmann SJ, Plönes T, Trepel M, Eibel H, Müller-Quernheim J, Zissel G. Pro-Fibrotic Effects of CCL18 on Human Lung Fibroblasts Are Mediated via CCR6. Cells 2024; 13:238. [PMID: 38334630 PMCID: PMC10854834 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease of unknown origin, with a median patient survival time of ~3 years after diagnosis without anti-fibrotic therapy. It is characterized by progressive fibrosis indicated by increased collagen deposition and high numbers of fibroblasts in the lung. It has been demonstrated that CCL18 induces collagen and αSMA synthesis in fibroblasts. We aimed to identify the CCL18 receptor responsible for its pro-fibrotic activities. METHODS We used a random phage display library to screen for potential CCL18-binding peptides, demonstrated its expression in human lungs and fibroblast lines by PCR and immunostaining and verified its function in cell lines. RESULTS We identified CCR6 (CD196) as a CCL18 receptor and found its expression in fibrotic lung tissue and lung fibroblast lines derived from fibrotic lungs, but it was almost absent in control lines and tissue. CCL18 induced receptor internalization in a CCR6-overexpressing cell line. CCR6 blockade in primary human lung fibroblasts reduced CCL18-induced FGF2 release as well as collagen-1 and αSMA expression. Knockdown of CCR6 in a mouse fibroblast cell line abolished the induction of collagen and α-smooth muscle actin expression. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that CCL18 triggers pro-fibrotic processes via CCR6, highlighting its role in fibrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Höhne
- Department of Pneumology, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; (K.H.); (C.M.); (P.E.); (S.J.S.); (J.M.-Q.)
| | - Annett Wagenknecht
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; (A.W.); (M.T.)
| | - Corinna Maier
- Department of Pneumology, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; (K.H.); (C.M.); (P.E.); (S.J.S.); (J.M.-Q.)
| | - Peggy Engelhard
- Department of Pneumology, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; (K.H.); (C.M.); (P.E.); (S.J.S.); (J.M.-Q.)
| | | | - Stephan J. Schließmann
- Department of Pneumology, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; (K.H.); (C.M.); (P.E.); (S.J.S.); (J.M.-Q.)
- Integrative and Experimental Exercise Science and Training, Institute of Sport Science, University of Würzburg, 97082 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Till Plönes
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Center for Surgery, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany;
| | - Martin Trepel
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; (A.W.); (M.T.)
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center and Medical Faculty, Augsburg University, Germany Internal Medicine and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Hermann Eibel
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany;
| | - Joachim Müller-Quernheim
- Department of Pneumology, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; (K.H.); (C.M.); (P.E.); (S.J.S.); (J.M.-Q.)
| | - Gernot Zissel
- Department of Pneumology, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; (K.H.); (C.M.); (P.E.); (S.J.S.); (J.M.-Q.)
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