Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unknown cause that is characterised by the formation of immune granulomas in various organs, mainly the lungs and the lymphatic system. Studies show that sarcoidosis might be the result of an exaggerated granulomatous reaction after exposure to unidentified antigens in individuals who are genetically susceptible. Several new insights have been made, particularly with regards to the diagnosis and care of some important manifestations of sarcoidosis. The indications for endobronchial ultrasound in diagnosis and for PET in the assessment of inflammatory activity are now better specified. Recognition of unexplained persistent disabling symptoms, fatigue, small-fibre neurological impairment, cognitive failure, and changes to health state and quality of life, has improved. Mortality in patients with sarcoidosis is higher than that of the general population, mainly due to pulmonary fibrosis. Predicted advances for the future are finding the cause of sarcoidosis, and the elucidation of relevant biomarkers, reliable endpoints, and new efficient treatments, particularly in patients with refractory sarcoidosis, lung fibrosis, and those with persistent disabling symptoms.

Our findings suggest that AMs from patients with pulmonary fibrosis disclose a phenotype of alternative activation and might be a part of a positive feedback loop with lung fibroblasts perpetuating fibrotic processes.

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In light of the marked global health impact of tuberculosis (TB), strong focus has been on identifying biosignatures. Gene expression profiles in blood cells identified so far are indicative of a persistent activation of the immune system and chronic inflammatory pathology in active TB. Definition of a biosignature with unique specificity for TB demands that identified profiles can differentiate diseases with similar pathology, like sarcoidosis (SARC). Here, we present a detailed comparison between pulmonary TB and SARC, including whole-blood gene expression profiling, microRNA expression, and multiplex serum analytes. Our analysis reveals that previously disclosed gene expression signatures in TB show highly similar patterns in SARC, with a common up-regulation of proinflammatory pathways and IFN signaling and close similarity to TB-related signatures. microRNA expression also presented a highly similar pattern in both diseases, whereas cytokines in the serum of TB patients revealed a slightly elevated proinflammatory pattern compared with SARC and controls. Our results indicate several differences in expression between the two diseases, with increased metabolic activity and significantly higher antimicrobial defense responses in TB. However, matrix metallopeptidase 14 was identified as the most distinctive marker of SARC. Described communalities as well as unique signatures in blood profiles of two distinct inflammatory pulmonary diseases not only have considerable implications for the design of TB biosignatures and future diagnosis, but they also provide insights into biological processes underlying chronic inflammatory disease entities of different etiology.G ene expression in peripheral blood cells from tuberculosis (TB) patients and healthy controls, both latently Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected and uninfected, has been profiled by several groups in the recent past (1-7). Identified expression profiles indicate chronic activation of the immune system, with a marked activation of IFN signaling (3), proinflammatory signaling through the JAK-STAT pathway (5, 6), and elevated expression of Fc γ-receptors and their downstream response elements (2, 4). Although these biosignatures have been identified by several independent groups and possess the potential to discriminate latently M. tuberculosis-infected healthy individuals from active TB patients, the question remains whether these gene expression signatures are specific for TB or shared, at least in part, with diseases of similar pathology but distinct etiology.To address this question, we have conducted a comparative analysis of blood profiles in patients with active pulmonary disease manifestation of TB and sarcoidosis (SARC). The rational for choosing pulmonary SARC for such a comparison is the remarkable similarity in immune activation with active TB, suggesting a shared underlying pathophysiology (8). Although SARC is generally considered a noncommunicable disease of unknown etiology, patients with pulmonary involvement present with histological and ...

BIBF 1000 is a small molecule inhibitor targeting the receptor kinases of plateletderived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor, which have known roles in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis.The anti-fibrotic potential of BIBF 1000 was determined in a rat model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and in an ex vivo fibroblast differentiation assay. Rats exposed to a single intratracheal injection of bleomycin were treated with BIBF 1000 starting 10 days after bleomycin administration. To gauge for anti-fibrotic activity, collagen deposition and pro-fibrotic growth factor gene expression was analysed in isolated lungs. Furthermore, the activity of BIBF 1000 was compared with imatinib mesylate (combined PDGF receptor, c-kit and c-abl kinase inhibitor) and SB-431542 (transforming growth factor (TGF)-b receptor I kinase inhibitor) in an ex vivo TGF-bdriven fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation assay, performed in primary human bronchial fibroblasts.Treatment of rats with BIBF 1000 resulted in the attenuation of fibrosis as assessed by the reduction of collagen deposition and the inhibition of pro-fibrotic gene expression. In the cellular assay both SB-431542 and BIBF 1000 showed dose-dependent inhibition of TGF-b-induced differentiation, whereas imatinib mesylate was inactive.BIBF 1000, or related small molecules with a similar kinase inhibition profile, may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background The INBUILD trial investigated the efficacy and safety of nintedanib versus placebo in patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We aimed to establish the effects of nintedanib in subgroups based on ILD diagnosis. Methods The INBUILD trial was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial done at 153 sites in 15 countries. Participants had an investigator-diagnosed fibrosing ILD other than IPF, with chest imaging features of fibrosis of more than 10% extent on high resolution CT (HRCT), forced vital capacity (FVC) of 45% or more predicted, and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLco) of at least 30% and less than 80% predicted. Participants fulfilled protocol-defined criteria for ILD progression in the 24 months before screening, despite management considered appropriate in clinical practice for the individual ILD. Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 by means of a pseudorandom number generator to receive nintedanib 150 mg twice daily or placebo for at least 52 weeks. Participants, investigators, and other personnel involved in the trial and analysis were masked to treatment assignment until after database lock. In this subgroup analysis, we assessed the rate of decline in FVC (mL/year) over 52 weeks in patients who received at least one dose of nintedanib or placebo in five prespecified subgroups based on the ILD diagnoses documented by the investigators: hypersensitivity pneumonitis, autoimmune ILDs, idiopathic non-specific interstitial pneumonia, unclassifiable idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, and other ILDs. The trial has been completed and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02999178.

Our data demonstrate that serum CCL18 concentrations have a predictive value in IPF and may be a useful tool in the clinical management of patients with IPF and in clinical trials.

Pulmonary fibrosis is the end stage of many diffuse parenchymal lung diseases. It is characterised by excessive matrix formation leading to destruction of the normal lung architecture and finally death. Despite an exponential increase in our understanding of potentially important mediators and mechanisms, the delineation of primary pathways has proven to be elusive.In this review susceptibility and injurious agents, such as viruses and gastro-oesophageal reflux, and their probable role in initiating disease will be discussed. Further topics that are elaborated are candidate ancillary pathways, including immune mechanisms, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, activation of the coagulation cascade and the potential role of stem cells. This review will try to provide the reader with an integrated view on the current knowledge and attempts to provide a road map for future research.It is important to explore robust models of overall pathogenesis, reconciling a large number of clinical and scientific observations. We believe that the integration of current data into a ''big picture'' overview of fibrogenesis is essential for the development of effective antifibrotic strategies. The latter will probably consist of a combination of agents targeting a number of key pathways.