BACKGROUND: Recent research has suggested that the Th1 and Th2 chemokine/cytokine axis contributes to the development of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). Acute exacerbations (AE) are significant factors in the prognosis of chronic HP. Little is known, however, about these biomarkers in association with AE in chronic HP patients. METHODS: Fifty-six patients with chronic HP were evaluated, including 14 patients during episodes of AE. Th1 mediators (C-X-C chemokine ligand [CXCL]10 and interferon [IFN]-gamma), Th2 mediators (C-C chemokine ligand [CCL]17, interleukin-4, and interleukin-13), and pro-fibrotic mediator (transforming growth factor [TGF]-beta) were measured to evaluate the mediators as predictors of AE. C-C chemokine receptor (CCR)4 (receptor for CCL17)-positive lymphocytes were quantified in lung specimens. RESULTS: Serum CCL17 levels at baseline independently predicted the first episode of AE (HR, 72.0; 95% CI, 5.03-1030.23; p = 0.002). AE was significantly more frequent in the higher-CCL17 group (>=285 pg/ml) than in the lower-CCL17 group (<285 pg/ml) (log-rank test, p = 0.0006; 1-year incidence: higher CCL17 vs. lower CCL17, 14.3% vs. 0.0%). Serum CCL17 levels and CCR4-positive cells during episodes of AE were increased from the baseline (p = 0.01 and 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Higher serum concentrations of CCL17 at baseline may be predictive of AE in patients with chronic HP, and CCL17 may contribute to the pathology of AE by inducing the accumulation of CCR4-positive lymphocytes in the lungs.
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 4. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 05 October 2022.
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#7,960,693
of 25,374,917 outputs
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#1,053
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Outputs of similar age
#64,853
of 207,665 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Respiratory Research
#16
of 36 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 25,374,917 research outputs across all sources so far. This one has received more attention than most of these and is in the 67th percentile.
So far Altmetric has tracked 3,062 research outputs from this source. They typically receive more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 7.9. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 64% of its peers.
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We're also able to compare this research output to 36 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 55% of its contemporaries.
