Serum amyloid A in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Lucia Vietri; David Bennett; Paolo Cameli; Laura Bergantini; Giuseppe Cillis; Piersante Sestini; Elena Bargagli; Paola Rottoli

doi:10.1016/j.resinv.2019.03.010

Serum amyloid A in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Respir Investig. 2019 Sep;57(5):430-434. doi: 10.1016/j.resinv.2019.03.010. Epub 2019 Apr 26.

Authors

Lucia Vietri¹, David Bennett², Paolo Cameli³, Laura Bergantini⁴, Giuseppe Cillis⁵, Piersante Sestini⁶, Elena Bargagli⁷, Paola Rottoli⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Neurosciences, Respiratory Disease and Lung Transplant Unit, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: lucia.vietri89@gmail.com.
² Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Neurosciences, Respiratory Disease and Lung Transplant Unit, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: david.btt@gmail.com.
³ Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Neurosciences, Respiratory Disease and Lung Transplant Unit, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: paolocameli88@gmail.com.
⁴ Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Neurosciences, Respiratory Disease and Lung Transplant Unit, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: laurabergantini@gmail.com.
⁵ Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Neurosciences, Respiratory Disease and Lung Transplant Unit, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: giuseppecillis@hotmail.it.
⁶ Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Neurosciences, Respiratory Disease and Lung Transplant Unit, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: piersante.sestini@unisi.it.
⁷ Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Neurosciences, Respiratory Disease and Lung Transplant Unit, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: bargagli2@gmail.com.
⁸ Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Neurosciences, Respiratory Disease and Lung Transplant Unit, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: paola.rottoli@unisi.it.

PMID: 31031123
DOI: 10.1016/j.resinv.2019.03.010

Abstract

Background: Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an apo-lipoprotein (12-14 kDa) produced by the liver in response to proinflammatory cytokines from activated monocytes. The precursor of SAA is an acute-phase protein involved in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis and has been found to be increased during exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. However, no data are available on SAA levels in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the most common and severe idiopathic form of interstitial pneumonitis associated with a usual interstitial histological and radiological pattern. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate SAA concentration in patients with IPF and to explore its potential use as a clinical biomarker.

Methods: SAA levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in a population of 21 patients with IPF (14 male, aged 64.8 ± 8.1 years) and compared with those in 11 healthy controls (3 male, aged 55 ± 11.3 years). Clinical, functional, and immunological data were collected in a database.

Results: SAA levels were significantly higher in patients with IPF than in controls (p = 0.03). In patients with IPF, statistically significant correlations were found between SAA and HDL cholesterol levels (r = -0.62, p = 0.05) and FVC % predicted value (r = -0.52, p = 0.01).

Conclusions: SAA is a promising marker of disease severity in patients with IPF. Our preliminary data suggest a potential pathogenetic role of alteration in lipid metabolism in this rare disease.

Keywords: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Lipid metabolism; Serum amyloid A; Serum biomarkers.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Biomarkers / blood
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Humans
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / diagnosis*
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / metabolism
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / physiopathology
Lipid Metabolism
Male
Middle Aged
Predictive Value of Tests
Serum Amyloid A Protein / analysis*
Serum Amyloid A Protein / metabolism*
Severity of Illness Index
Vital Capacity

Substances

Biomarkers
Serum Amyloid A Protein