Positive fungal quantitative PCR and Th17 cytokine detection in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids: Complementary biomarkers of hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a large group of diseases, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and sarcoidosis.



In this study, we aimed to identify bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) biomarkers which could be contributive for HP diagnosis.



We analyzed 39 BALF samples from 12 ILD patients with sarcoidosis, 11 with IPF and 16 with HP. We determined the levels of 10 cytokines and carried out quantitative PCR for 10 microorganisms involved in farm-associated or domestic forms of HP.



IL-8, IL-6, TNFα, IL-17 and IL-23 levels were significantly higher in BALF samples from HP patients (p<0.05, one-way Kruskal-Wallis analysis). QPCR tests for Eurotium amstelodami and Wallemia sebi were positively significantly more frequently for HP patients (p<0.05, one-way Kruskal-Wallis).



The biomarkers identified here can be detected in BALF, which could be routinely obtained as complementary analysis in ILD diagnosis.
Chrono-Environnement UMR 6249 Research Team, Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France; Parasitology-Mycology Department, Besançon University Hospital, Besançon, France. Electronic address: apbellanger@chu-besancon.fr.
Anne-Pauline
AP
Bellanger
Infection Control Department, Besançon University Hospital, Besançon, France.
Houssein
H
Gbaguidi-Haore
Pneumology Department, Besançon University Hospital, Besançon, France.
Anne
A
Gondoin
Immunology Department, French Blood Institute of Bourgogne Franche Comte, France.
Jean-Rene
JR
Pallandre
Chrono-Environnement UMR 6249 Research Team, Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France.
Mallory
M
Vacheyrou
Chrono-Environnement UMR 6249 Research Team, Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France.
Benoit
B
Valot
Pneumology Department, Besançon University Hospital, Besançon, France.
Thibaud
T
Soumagne
Chrono-Environnement UMR 6249 Research Team, Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France; Parasitology-Mycology Department, Besançon University Hospital, Besançon, France.
Gabriel
G
Reboux
Pneumology Department, Besançon University Hospital, Besançon, France.
Jean-Charles
JC
Dalphin
Chrono-Environnement UMR 6249 Research Team, Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France; Parasitology-Mycology Department, Besançon University Hospital, Besançon, France.
Laurence
L
Millon
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D007378:Interleukins
Bronchoalveolar fluid; Eurotium amstelodami; Fungal QPCR; Hypersensitivity pneumonitis; IL-17; IL-23; Interstitial lung disease; Wallemia sebi