PhD Scientific Days 2022

Clinical Medicine VII. (Poster discussion will take place in the Aula during the Coffee Break)

Serum Progranulin Levels in Interstitial Lung Diseases

Text of the abstract

Introduction

The diagnosis of different interstitial lung diseases (ILD) is a major challenge due to the significant overlap in clinical, radiological and histological features. New non-invasive and validated biomarkers are needed to provide more confident classification. Progranulin is a multipotent growth factor, where elevated serum levels have been reported in liver fibrosis and acute interstitial pneumonia associated with dermatomyositis.

Aim

Our aim was to assess the role of progranulin as a potential biomarker in the differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other ILDs.

Methods

Serum levels of progranulin were measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in patients with stable IPF (n = 40), non-IPF ILD (sarcoidosis, connective tissue disease-related ILDs (CTD-ILDs), hypersensitive pneumonitis, drug-induced ILD, cryptogen organizing pneumonia and other rare forms of ILD; n = 48) and healthy controls (n = 17). Correlations between serum progranulin levels and lung function parameters, CO diffusing capacity of the lung (DLCO), partial arterial oxygen pressure (pO2), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), C-reactive protein levels (CRP) and disease severity (GAP score) were assessed.

Results

Serum progranulin levels were significantly higher in non-IPF ILD patients as compared to healthy subjects (53.47 ± 15.38 ng/ml vs. 40.99 ± 5.33 ng/ml; p <0.001) and IPF patients (53.47 ± 15.38 ng/ml vs. 44.66 ± 7.77 ng/ml; p = 0.0027). In stable IPF, progranulin levels did not differ significantly from healthy controls (44.66 ± 7.77 ng/ml vs. 40.99 ± 5.33 ng/ml; p = 0.1298). Functional parameters including forced vital capacity (FVC), DLCO, pO2, 6MWD, GAP score and CRP levels did not show correlation with progranulin levels.

Conclusion

Elevated serum progranulin levels may be associated with the presence of non-IPF ILD, but are not different in stable IPF from controls, so progranulin may play a role in the differentiation between IPF and other ILDs.

Funding

The research was funded by the Scientific Research Grant of the Hungarian Pulmonology Foundation, in 2016.