Intrapulmonary Autoantibodies to HSP72 Are Associated with Improved Outcomes in IPF

Figure 2

Elevated expression of Hsp72 in IPF patients occurred in lung epithelia and coincided with C4d deposition. IPF patient serum and BALf was measured for Hsp72 using a commercial ELISA (IPF , other ILDs , healthy controls ). Serum concentrations of Hsp72 were elevated in ILD patients compared to healthy controls ((a) ). Hsp72 concentrations in the BALf were normalised to total albumin content, and no difference was seen between ILD and healthy controls ((b) ). Immunohistochemistry detection of Hsp72 and C4d was performed on 8 IPF biopsies with UIP ((c) unstained control, (d) Hsp72 detection, and (e) C4d detection). Detection of Hsp72 and C4d was seen in hyperplastic alveolar epithelia (denoted by blue arrows) near areas of fibrotic foci (FF). Statistics was performed using a Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s posttest.

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