Lung Microbiome in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Other Interstitial Lung Diseases.

Francesco Amati,Antonio Voza,Marco Mantero,Giulia Suigo,Anna Stainer,Edoardo Simonetta,Anoop M Nambiar,Umberto Cariboni,Justin Oldham,Francesco Blasi,Andrea Gramegna,Paolo Spagnolo,Philip L Molyneaux,Stefano Aliberti

doi:10.3390/ijms23020977

Abstract

Interstitial lung diseases represent a heterogeneous and wide group of diseases in which factors leading to disease initiation and progression are not fully understood. Recent evidence suggests that the lung microbiome might influence the pathogenesis and progression of interstitial lung diseases. In recent years, the utilization of culture-independent methodologies has allowed the identification of complex and dynamic communities of microbes, in patients with interstitial lung diseases. However, the potential mechanisms by which these changes may drive disease pathogenesis and progression are largely unknown. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of the altered lung microbiome in several interstitial lung diseases. Untangling the host–microbiome interaction in the lung and airway of interstitial lung disease patients is a research priority. Thus, lung dysbiosis is a potentially treatable trait across several interstitial lung diseases, and its proper characterization and treatment might be crucial to change the natural history of these diseases and improve outcomes.

Highlights

IntroductionWhile a number of genetic variants that are potentially pathogenic are well recognized, the environmental triggers remain largely unidentified [3,4,5]
Change in cough-related quality of life measured by the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ)
Preliminary evidence suggests that the lung microbiome might influence the natural history of ILDs

Summary

Introduction

While a number of genetic variants that are potentially pathogenic are well recognized, the environmental triggers remain largely unidentified [3,4,5]. The respiratory tract of healthy individuals harbors a natural community of microbes, and mounting evidence links alteration in these communities to the pathogenesis and progression of several airway diseases, such as asthma, bronchiectasis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [8,9,10]. A growing body of evidence points toward the role of dysbiosis of the lung microbiome as a contributor to the development and progression of ILDs and, in particular, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) [11]. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of the lung microbiome in the pathogenesis and progression of ILDs with emphasis on potential interventions

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion