Looking for airways periostin in patients with interstitial lung diseases.

Abstract

Background: Periostin is a matricellular protein of the fasciclin 1 family that plays a key role in development and repair within the biological matrix of the lung. Serum periostin levels in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are significantly higher than those in healthy individuals or patients with other interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and are inversely correlated with pulmonary function in patients with IPF. Aims and objectives: The aim of the present study was to analyze the periostin levels in the airways of patients with ILDs, evaluating its role as a biomarker to assess specific subtype of ILDs. Methods: 46 patients with ILDs (30 with IPF and 16 with other ILDs) and 5 healthy controls were enrolled and underwent exhaled breath condensate (EBC). Periostin was assessed by an ELISA kit on EBC. Results: Periostin was measurable in the EBC of ILDs patients. We found higher exhaled periostin in IPF patients respectively compared to ones with other ILDs and healthy controls (65,5 ± 23,5 pg/ml vs 39 ± 20,2 vs 33 ± 21,4 pg/ml, p Conclusions: We found that periostin is dosable in the airways of patients with ILDs. As the circulating one, airways periostin may be a potential biomarker to support IPF diagnosis and to monitor disease progression during follow-up.