Diagnostics
TOLLIP and MUC5B Genetic Variants Influence the Circulating KL6, SPD, and HE4 Levels in Interstitial Lung Abnormalities
By Leslie Chávez‐Galán, Ranferi Ocaña‐Guzmán, Lucero A. Ramón‐Luing and 5 others.
Abstract
Background
Interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) are alterations of lung parenchyma found in approximately 5% of individuals older than 60 years. There is growing interest in identifying early biomarkers that may facilitate diagnosis and predict disease progression. Given ILA’s biological complexity, a multidimensional approach integrating genetic susceptibility and immune dysregulation is warranted.
Methods
We studied 87 ILA subjects and 74 subjects without changes on high-resolution computed tomography and without respiratory symptoms. We also classified ILA subjects by progression status during 5 years of follow-up: 20 progressed, and 67 did not. This study evaluated demographic characteristics, circulating soluble proteins (KL6, SPD, and HE4), T cell polarization (Th1/Th2 balance), and selected gene polymorphisms (TERT, MUC5B, FAM13A, TOLLIP, and DSP).