A genetic predisposition has been identified in 30% of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) cases. Although it is highly probable that the genotype affects the disease susceptibility and course in almost all patients, the specific genotype goes undetected. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of variants of the genes encoding interleukin-4 (IL-4), mucin 5B (MUC5B), toll interacting protein (TOLLIP), surfactant protein A (SFPTA), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and transporters associated with antigen processing (TAP1 and TAP2) on the course of IPF. A total of 50 patients with IPF were enrolled, and variants of these genes were assessed. Lung function at the time of diagnosis and after 6, 12 and 18 months, and the number of acute exacerbations and deaths in each observation period were measured. ANOVA was used to test the association between gene polymorphisms and the decrease in lung function. There was no significant effect of the gene polymorphisms on the outcomes of patients up to 6 months during the observation period. After 12 months, an effect of an IL-4 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs 2070874) on patient outcomes was observed [relative risk (RR) for T allele: 5.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.79-39.0; P=0.053]. The RR of progression in patients with the IL-4 SNP (rs 2243250) and the CT and TT genotypes was 4.3 (95% CI, 1.1-17.5; P=0.046). A total of 18 months after the diagnosis of IPF, an effect of the TOLLIP polymorphism on patient outcome was detected (rs 111521887; risk allele GC; RR: 7.2; 95% CI, 0.97-53.6; P=0.052). Thus, IL-4 and TOLLIP gene polymorphisms may represent disease course-modifying factors, but not drivers of IPF.

• Klíčová slova
• gene variants, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, interleukin 4, toll interacting protein,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This mini-review summarizes the current evidence for the role of macrophage activation and polarization in inflammation and immune response pertinent to interstitial lung disease, specifically pulmonary fibrosis. In the fibrosing lung, the production and function of inflammatory and fibrogenic mediators involved in the disease development have been reported to be regulated by the effects of polarized M1/M2 macrophage populations. The M1 and M2 macrophage phenotypes were suggested to correspond with the pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic signatures, respectively. These responses towards tissue injury followed by the development and progression of lung fibrosis are further regulated by macrophage-derived microRNAs (miRNAs). Besides cellular miRNAs, extracellular exosomal-miRNAs derived from M2 macrophages have also been proposed to promote the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. In a future perspective, harnessing the noncoding miRNAs with a key role in the macrophage polarization is, therefore, suggested as a promising therapeutic strategy for this debilitating disease.

• Klíčová slova
• M1/M2 polarization, MicroRNAs, exosomes, macrophage plasticity, pulmonary fibrosis,
• MeSH
• aktivace makrofágů genetika   imunologie   MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• cytokiny metabolismus   MeSH
• exozómy metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• makrofágy imunologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• mediátory zánětu metabolismus   MeSH
• mikro RNA genetika   MeSH
• náchylnost k nemoci * MeSH
• plasticita buňky MeSH
• plicní fibróza etiologie   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH
• cytokiny MeSH
• mediátory zánětu MeSH
• mikro RNA MeSH

Genome-wide and candidate gene studies for pulmonary sarcoidosis have highlighted several candidate variants among different populations. However, the genetic basis of functional rare variants in sarcoidosis still needs to be explored. To identify functional rare variants in sarcoidosis, we sequenced exomes of 22 sarcoidosis cases from six families. Variants were prioritized using linkage and high-penetrance approaches, and filtered to identify novel and rare variants. Functional networking and pathway analysis of identified variants was performed using gene ontology based gene-phenotype, gene-gene, and protein-protein interactions. The linkage (n = 1007-7640) and high-penetrance (n = 11,432) prioritized variants were filtered to select variants with (a) reported allele frequency < 5% in databases (1.2-3.4%) or (b) novel (0.7-2.3%). Further selection based on functional properties and validation revealed a panel of 40 functional rare variants (33 from linkage region, 6 highly penetrant and 1 shared by both approaches). Functional network analysis implicated these gene variants in immune responses, such as regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines including production of IFN-γ and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, leukocyte proliferation, bacterial defence, and vesicle-mediated transport. The KEGG pathway analysis indicated inflammatory bowel disease as most relevant. This study highlights the subsets of functional rare gene variants involved in pulmonary sarcoidosis, such as, regulations of calcium ions, G-protein-coupled receptor, and immune system including retinoic acid binding. The implicated mechanisms in etiopathogenesis of familial sarcoidosis thus include Wnt signalling, inflammation mediated by chemokine and cytokine signalling and cadherin signalling pathways.

• MeSH
• celogenomová asociační studie MeSH
• exom * MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• genetická predispozice k nemoci * MeSH
• genetická variace * MeSH
• genetické markery * MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• genové regulační sítě * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• plicní sarkoidóza genetika   patologie   MeSH
• rodokmen MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• genetické markery * MeSH

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) affects lung parenchyma with progressing fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to replicate MUC5B rs35705950 variants and determine new plausible candidate variants for IPF among four different European populations. We genotyped 26 IPF candidate loci in 165 IPF patients from four European countries, such as Czech Republic (n = 41), Germany (n = 33), Greece (n = 40), France (n = 51), and performed association study comparing observed variant distribution with that obtained in a genetically similar Czech healthy control population (n = 96) described in our earlier data report. A highly significant association for a promoter variant (rs35705950) of mucin encoding MUC5B gene was observed in all IPF populations, individually and combined [odds ratio (95% confidence interval); p-value as 5.23 (8.94-3.06); 1.80 × 10(-11)]. Another non-coding variant, rs7934606 in MUC2 was significant among German patients [2.85 (5.05-1.60); 4.03 × 10(-4)] and combined European IPF cases [2.18 (3.16-1.50); 3.73 × 10(-5)]. The network analysis for these variants indicated gene-gene and gene-phenotype interactions in IPF and lung biology. With replication of MUC5B rs35705950 previously reported in U.S. populations of European descent and indicating other plausible polymorphic variants relevant for IPF, we provide additional reference information for future extended functional and population studies aimed, ideally with inclusion of clinical parameters, at identification of IPF genetic markers.

• Klíčová slova
• MUC2, MUC5B, association study, cytokines, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, network analysis, sequenom MassARRAY, single nucleotide polymorphism,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH