Multiplex immune serum biomarker profiling in sarcoidosis and systemic sclerosis

Abstract

Multiplex protein technology has the potential to identify biomarkers for the differentiation, classification and improved understanding of the pathogenesis of interstitial lung disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether a 30-inflammatory biomarker panel could discriminate between healthy controls, sarcoidosis and systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients independently of other clinical indicators. We also evaluated whether a panel of biomarkers could differentiate between the presence or absence of lung fibrosis in SSc patients.We measured 30 circulating biomarkers in 20 SSc patients, 21 sarcoidosis patients and 20 healthy controls using Luminex bead technology and used Fisher's discriminant function analysis to establish the groups of classification mediators.There were significant differences in median concentration measurements between study groups for 20 of the mediators but with considerable range overlap between the groups, limiting group differentiation by single analyte measurements. However, a 17-analyte biomarker model correctly classified 90% of study individuals to their respective group and another 14-biomarker panel correctly identified the presence of lung fibrosis in SSc patients.These findings, if they are corroborated by independent studies in other centres, have potential for clinical application and may generate novel insights into the modulation of immune profiles during disease evolution.

Serum biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

“…Combining measurement of five serum proteins, including three MMPs, could correctly differentiate between IPF patients and controls, with a with a sensitivity of 98.6% and specificity of 98.1% [63]. Simultaneous analysis of 17 serum proteins, using Luminex bead technology, correctly differentiated between healthy controls, patients with sarcoidosis and systemic sclerosis patients in 90% of cases [82]. We feel that further research into such composite markers, especially within the group of sometimes difficult to diagnose IIPs, is warranted.…”

The potential of the immunological markers of sarcoidosis in exhaled breath and peripheral blood as future diagnostic and monitoring techniques

“…Additionally, small amounts of DNA and epithelial cells are also detectable in EBC and these are believed to originate from the lower respiratory tract (Mutlu et al 2001;Chan et al 2008;Horváth et al 2009). Hence, there may be a role in potentially utilising novel methods such as multiplex protein and gene expression technology (Edmé et al 2008;Robroeks et al 2010;Beirne et al 2009) to identify new exhaled biomarkers of sarcoid airway inflammation.…”

Chemokine receptor CXCR3 ligands in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: associations with radiological pattern, clinical course, and prognosis in sarcoidosis

“…Crude BAL fluid was filtered through gauze, centrifuged, and the pellet was suspended in a phosphate buffer. The total cell count was presented as n × 10 6 . Cytospin slides were prepared and stained using the May-Grünwald-Giemsa stain.…”

“…All of them act through the CXCR3 receptor; therefore, they are also known as CXCR3 ligands. 4 Increased concentrations of the IFN-γ-inducible chemokines have been reported in serum 5,6 and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 4,7-9 fluid from patients with sarcoidosis. However, associations between those increased levels and radiological, clinical, and laboratory markers as well as the chronic course of sarcoidosis have not been studied.…”