Heterozygous mutations in four telomere-related genes have been linked to pulmonary fibrosis, but little is known about similarities or differences of affected individuals.115 patients with mutations in telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) (n=75), telomerase RNA component (TERC) (n=7), regulator of telomere elongation helicase 1 (RTEL1) (n=14) and poly(A)-specific ribonuclease (PARN) (n=19) were identified and clinical data were analysed.Approximately one-half (46%) had a multidisciplinary diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); others had unclassifiable lung fibrosis (20%), chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (12%), pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (10%), interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (7%), an idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (4%) and connective tissue disease-related interstitial fibrosis (3%).
We correlated the transcription of TGF-beta(1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), IL-4, IL-13 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) with lung function development in progressive fibrosis in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.
In a multivariate analysis model including the diffuse cutaneous subtype of SSc and positivity for anti-topoisomerase I antibodies, the IRF5rs2004640 TT genotype remained associated with fibrosing alveolitis (P=0.029, OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.07-3.44).
We correlated the transcription of TGF-beta(1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), IL-4, IL-13 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) with lung function development in progressive fibrosis in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.
To search for single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the interleukin-8 (IL-8) and IL-8 receptor CXCR-1 and CXCR-2 genes, and to compare their distribution among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with fibrosing alveolitis (FASSc) or without fibrosing alveolitis (NFASSc), or patients with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA), and normal healthy subjects.