Erratum to: Serum B cell-activating factor (BAFF) level in connective tissue disease associated interstitial lung disease.

Tsutomu Hamada,Yoshikazu Inoue,Kazuhito Hatanaka,Ikkou Higashimoto,Tomohiro Kumamoto,Go Tsukuya,Masaki Watanabe,Takuya Samukawa,Kentaro Machida,Masuki Yamamoto,Hiromasa Inoue,Keiko Mizuno

doi:10.1186/s12890-016-0278-1

Abstract

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are common in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Although the diagnosis of an underlying CTD in ILD (CTD-ILD) affects both prognosis and treatment, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish CTD-ILD from chronic fibrosing interstitial pneumonia (CFIP). B cell–activating factor belonging to the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) plays a crucial role in B cell development, survival, and antibody production. We examined serum levels of BAFF, surfactant protein D (SP-D), and Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) in 33 patients with CTD-ILD, 16 patients with undifferentiated CTD-ILD, 19 patients with CFIP, and 26 healthy volunteers. And we analysed the relationship between serum BAFF levels and pulmonary function, as well as the expression of BAFF in the lung tissue of patients with CTD-ILD. Serum levels of BAFF were significantly higher in CTD-ILD patients compared to healthy subjects and CFIP patients. However, there were no significant differences in serum levels of SP-D and KL-6. Furthermore, serum BAFF levels in CTD-ILD patients were inversely correlated with pulmonary function. BAFF was strongly expressed in the lungs of CTD-ILD patients, but weakly in normal lungs. This is the first study to demonstrate that serum BAFF levels were significantly higher in CTD-ILD patients compared to healthy subjects and CFIP patients. Furthermore, serum BAFF levels were correlated with pulmonary function. We consider that serum BAFF levels in patients with CTD-ILD reflect the presence of ILDs disease activity and severity. These finding suggest that BAFF may be a useful marker for distinguishing CTD-ILD from CFIP.

Highlights

Erratum After the publication of this work [1], it was brought to the authors attention that statements in the article are not consistent with Fig. 1
The statement “Our findings show that patients who met Kinder’s criteria for UCTD had significantly higher serum BAFF levels than patients with CFIP;” and “In summary, increased levels of BAFF were found in the circulation of patients with CTD-ILD and UCTD-ILD, in whom serum levels were inversely correlated with lung function” are not a correct reflection of the results from the data analysis in Fig. 1 of the article
The corrected statements are provided here as follows: “Our findings show that patients who met Kinder’s criteria for UCTD tended to have higher serum BAFF levels than patients with CFIP;” and “In summary, increased levels of BAFF were found in the circulation of patients with CTD-ILD, in whom serum levels were inversely correlated with lung function.”

Summary

Introduction

Erratum After the publication of this work [1], it was brought to the authors attention that statements in the article are not consistent with Fig. 1. Erratum to: Serum B cell–activating factor (BAFF) level in connective tissue disease associated interstitial lung disease Tsutomu Hamada1, Takuya Samukawa1, Tomohiro Kumamoto1, Kazuhito Hatanaka2, Go Tsukuya1, Masuki Yamamoto1, Kentaro Machida1, Masaki Watanabe1, Keiko Mizuno1, Ikkou Higashimoto1, Yoshikazu Inoue3 and Hiromasa Inoue1*

Results

Conclusion