Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of a number of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) that result in extensive and chronic pulmonary fibrosis. In IPF pathology, immunological dysfunction has been identified as a contributing factor to the ongoing fibrotic process, implicating cells and mechanisms of both the innate and humoral immune response. Due to the complex and diverse range of cells and mediators involved in IPF, the pathology is still poorly understood. Evidence of complement activation through the classical pathway in IPF lungs implies a role for IgG in the pathology. The active IgG in IPF may be autoreactive in nature, as IgG that target antigens of alveolar epithelial cells have been. Two autoantibodies in IPF, anti-periplakin IgG and anti-Hsp72 IgG, have been associated with poorer prognoses in IPF patients. The association of anti-Hsp72 IgG with IPF patient outcomes has not been validated and little work has been done to study the underlying mechanisms of autoantibodies in IPF pathogenesis. Hypothesis Anti-Hsp72 IgG is associated with poorer outcomes in IPF, and may induce alveolar macrophages to exhibit a pro-fibrotic phenotype. Aims The aims were to:  Optimise an ELISA for anti-Hsp72 IgG detection and determine any association of anti-Hsp72 IgG with IPF patient outcomes  Determine the location of anti-Hsp72 IgG producing cells and detect if Hsp72-IgG complexes are present in IPF patients’ lungs  Explore a potential underlying pro-fibrotic mechanism through which anti-Hps72 IgG modulates macrophage function. Results The presence of anti-Hsp72 IgG was determined in ILD patient and healthy control bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALf) and serum. A novel anti-Hsp72 IgG ELISA was developed and optimised and then compared against a commercial anti-Hsp72 IgGAM ELISA which became available during the PhD. Progression in IPF was defined by a decrease of ≥10% vital capacity (VC) over twelve months. Serum anti-Hsp72 IgG(AM) did not associate with changes in VC over 12 months. In contrast, BALf anti-Hsp72 IgG(AM) concentrations were elevated in IPF non-progressors. Patients with high BALf anti-Hsp72 IgGAM, had improved survival compared patient with low anti-Hsp72 IgGAM (adjusted HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.92; p=0.032) In contrast there was no association between anti-Hsp72 IgG and survival. Detection of anti-Hsp72 IgG subtypes in the serum and BALf of IPF patients revealed no significant difference in anti-Hsp72 IgG subtype detection levels between progressors and non-progressors. BALf anti-Hsp72 IgG1 levels were associated with a significantly lower rate of decline in VC over twelve months than patients with no detectable anti-Hsp72 IgG1. The presence of Hsp72-IgG complexes was confirmed by detection in purified IgG from IPF patient BALf. Immuno-histological detection of C4d deposition in the lungs of IPF patients coincided in areas of Hsp72 expression in alveolar epithelium. Summary These findings do not validate serum and-Hsp72 IgG as a biomarker for IPF. They support a role for anti-Hsp72 IgG in IPF, but associate with decreased rates of lung function decline and increased patient survival. Data also suggests that the decreased rate of decline may be related to specific anti-Hsp72 IgG subtype expression. The immune-histological data further suggests that anti-Hsp72 IgG may be targeting Hsp72 expressed by lung epithelium. Therefore these findings support a role for immunological dysfunction in IPF, but further work is required to determine the underlying mechanism.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an irreversible disease of unknown etiology that involves progressive scarring of the lung tissue, leading to respiratory failure and death.1 IPF is thought to develop from repetitive lung injury and aberrant wound healing that leads to the generation of fibrous tissue rather than restoration of normal tissue.2 It has been suggested in mice that vascular leak after lung injury contributes to the development of lung fibrosis.2,3 Gadofosveset is an intravascular enhancing, gadolinium-based contrast agent used with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess a variety of biological processes in vivo because it can reversibly bind to albumin.13-14 Gadofosveset has been used to assess endothelial permeability and function, as it diffuses through the vessel walls via leaky neovessels and damaged endothelium.15 Our research group has developed a new method to assess disease activity in IPF patients using gadofosveset-enhanced lung MRI. In unpublished work, we have demonstrated that this technique can be used to generate an albumin extravasation index (AEI), and we have found that this is significantly and diffusely increased in the lung of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis compared to healthy controls.16 The AEI is a measure of the change in signal intensity post-contrast minus pre-contrast in predefined regions of interest (ROIs) in the lung parenchyma divided by post- minus pre-contrast signal intensity in the ROI in the aorta. In this study, we compared the AEI in patients with IPF to healthy control (HC) subjects and evaluated the correlation between the AEI and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function testing (PFT). We found that IPF subjects had increased AEI values compared with HC subjects. While not statistically significant, AEI was more strongly correlated with fibrosis (interstitial abnormalities) than ground-glass (alveolar abnormalities) on HRCT. Furthermore, there was a possible correlation between AEI and change in percent predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide adjusted for hemoglobin (DLCO) [Hb]. Our results demonstrate that AEI calculations from gadofosveset-enhanced lung MRI are a surrogate measure of vascular leak and can potentially serve as an alternative method for predicting the clinical course and severity of IPF through its correlation with fibrosis on HRCT and pulmonary function.

Orientador: James Venturini / Resumo: A paracoccidioidomicose (PCM) é micose sistêmica causada por fungos do gênero Paracoccidioides; suas principais formas clínicas são aguda/subaguda e crônica (FC). Apesar do tratamento antifúngico ser eficaz, a maioria dos paciente com a FC da doença apresentam sequelas, incluindo fibrose pulmonar. Sabe-se que o estabelecimento da fibrose na PCM é um processo precoce e sua relação com o tratamento antifúngico não é bem esclarecido. As plantas possuem o chamado metabolismo secundário e, portanto, são utilizadas para fins terapêuticos desde os primórdios. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi identificar novos candidatos terapêuticos com propriedades anti-fibróticas frente a fibroblastos pulmonares humanos a partir de espécies do gênero Piper, Peperomia, Davilla, Eugenia e Silybum. Além de avaliar o efeito da associação da silimarina ao antifúngico cotrimoxazol (CMX) em modelo experimental murino da PCM. Nossos resultados demonstraram potencial pró-fibrótico das espécies Piper aduncum, Piper gaudichaudianum e Piper arboreum, induzindo maior produção de pró-colágeno I em fibroblastos pulmonares humanos. Entretanto, o alcaloide/amida comumente isolado do gênero Piper, a piplartina, apresentou potencial anti-fibrótico, reprimindo a produção de pró-colageno 1. Além de verificarmos que a associação da silimarina e CMX exibe um potencial antifibrótico e uma resposta pró Th1. Por outro lado, a silibinina isolada, componente majoritário da silimarina, não apresentou diferença quanto a p... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is systemic mycosis caused by fungi of the genus Paracoccidioides; its main clinical forms are acute/subacute and chronic (CF). Although antifungal therapy is effective, most patients with CF suffer from sequelae, including pulmonary fibrosis. It is known that the establishment of fibrosis in PCM is an early process and its relation to antifungal treatment is not well understood. Plants have the secondary metabolism and have been used for therapeutic purposes since the earliest. In this context, the present study aims to identify new therapeutic candidates with antifibrotic properties against human pulmonary fibroblasts from species of the genus Piper, Peperomia, Davilla and Eugenia. In addition to evaluating the effect of silimarine in association with CMX in murine experimental model of PCM. Our results demonstrated the pro-fibrotic potential of the species P. aduncum, P. gaudichaudianum and P. arboreum, inducing greater pro-collagen I production in human lung fibroblasts. However, the compound isolated piplartine presented antifibrotic potential, upregulating the production of pro-collagen 1. In addition, we find that the association of silymarin the herbal antifungal CMX demonstrated antifibrotic potential and a response pro Th1. However, isolated silibinin does not presented difference of production of pro-collagen 1. Our results are promising, as they demonstrate for the first time the protective effect of piplartine on pulmonary fibrosis an... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: James Venturini / Resumo: Paracoccidioidomicose (PCM) é uma micose sistêmica causada por fungos do gênero Paracoccidioides; suas principais formas clínicas são aguda/subaguda, crônica e residual. A PCM é uma doença restrita a países da América Latina com maior incidência no Brasil, especialmente entre os trabalhadores rurais. A maioria dos pacientes com a forma crônica da doença, mesmo após tratamento eficaz, apresentam sequelas, incluindo fibrose pulmonar e adrenal. Os problemas sociais, econômicos e psicológicos desencadeados pela fibrose pulmonar são subestimados; além disso, a fibrose na PCM permanece negligenciada, uma vez que não há tratamento. Dessa forma, o estudo teve por objetivo investigar a influência de drogas com potencial antifibrótico (pentoxifilina - PTX, azitromicina - AZT e talidomida - Thal) associadas aos tratamentos antifúngicos com itraconazol - ITC e cotrimoxazol - CMX em modelo murino de PCM pulmonar. Para tanto, camundongos BALB/c machos foram inoculados com leveduras do isolado 326 de P. brasiliensis e após 8 semanas de infecção foi dado início aos esquemas terapêuticos: PTX/ITC, PTX/CMX, AZT/ITC, AZT/CMX, Thal/ITC e Thal/CMX. Após 8 semanas de tratamento, os animais foram eutanasiados a fim de se avaliar a deposição de fibras colágenas, produção de hidroxiprolina, recuperação de fungos viáveis e a porcentagem das áreas com lesão nos pulmões e peso corporal. Visando identificar os mecanismos envolvidos foi avaliada a produção de TGF-β1, CCL3, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, VEGF, IL-6,... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by fungi of Paracoccidioides genus; the main clinical forms are acute/subacute, chronic and residual. PCM is a disease restricted to Latin American countries with a higher incidence in Brazil, especially among rural workers. Most patients with the chronic form, even after effective treatment, present sequelae, including pulmonary and adrenal fibrosis. The social, economic and psychological problems triggered by pulmonary sequels are underestimated. In addition, fibrosis in PCM remains neglected, since there is no treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of antifibrotic drugs (pentoxifylline - PTX, azithromycin - AZT and thalidomide - Thal) associated with antifungal treatments with itraconazole - ITC and cotrimoxazole - CMX in a murine model of pulmonary PCM. Male BALB/c mice were inoculated with P. brasiliensis “isolated 326” and after 8 weeks of infection the treatment were started: PTX/ITC, PTX/CMX, AZT/ITC, AZT/CMX, Thal/ITC and Thal/CMX. After 8 weeks of treatment, the mice were euthanized in order to evaluate the deposition of collagen fibers, hydroxyproline production, recovery of viable fungi and the percentage of areas with injury in lung and body weight. In order to identify the mechanisms involved, the production of TGF-β1, CCL3, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, VEGF, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-17 and IL-2 in the lung homogenate was evaluated. Our findings revealed that infected mice treated with PTX/ITC s... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-123).

Chronic pulmonary disorders, marked by excessive extracellular matrix deposition (ECM) or fibrosis, are the most resistant to present clinical therapies resulting in prognoses of 50% life expectancy three years from diagnosis. Inadequacies of current treatments may be attributable to limitations in non-invasive therapeutic administration modalities. However, with the use of polyketal microparticles (PKMs), a novel drug delivery vehicle, a myriad of therapeutic schemes may be explored. Polyketals are a new polymeric family characterized by tissue biocompatibility, rapid hydrolysis, and benign degradation byproducts making it attuned for pulmonary applications. Potential treatments such as siRNA, oligo nucleotides, enzymes and other biomolecules can be encapsulated within PKMs and administered non-invasively via inhalation. For this study, we selected a model therapeutic peptide, Ac-SDKP, with established anti-fibrotic properties as the load for PKMs. For lung dysfunctions accompanied by fibrotic scarring, Ac-SDKP possesses promise in restoring the normal ECM framework. To assess PKMs viability as a pulmonary drug delivery vehicle three objectives were initially defined: 1) Synthesize particles possessing aerodynamic properties conducive for aerosolization 2) Optimization of the therapeutic load, Ac-SDKP, in PKMs to levels that will translate to clinical dosing concentrations, and 3) Determine the biocompatibility of the PKMs in the lung. Optimization of the Ac-SKDP loading within PKMs and size analysis revealed that a solid in oil in water double emulsion particle synthesis technique produced the most ideal microspheres. Based on previous reports, the loading efficiency attained, when locally dispensed, should reach clinical dosing requirements. Synthesized particles were compatible with aerosolization criteria; i.e., diameters below 3 μm and low polydispersities. In addition, we evaluated PKM tissue biocompatibility using a murine lung model. Examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid demonstrated only a slight inflammatory response to intratracheal particle injections of PKMs whereas PLGA, a commonly used biomaterial, elicited a significantly higher response. Histological assessment of the lungs following particle injection verified PKMs biocompatibility superiority. In conclusion, small-diameter PKMs are a suitable delivery system for pulmonary drug delivery, capable of delivering small peptide therapeutics and evading the local inflammatory response. The present work will enable expansion of therapeutic avenues capable of combating chronic lung disease.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O desenvolvimento de fibrose pulmonar (FP) induzida por bleomicina tem sido associado com as características genéticas e estresse oxidativo. Nosso objetivo foi investigar a influência do equilíbrio redox sobre a resistência a fibrose pulmonar induzida por bleomicina em diferentes linhagens de camundongos. Uma única dose de bleomicina (0,1 U/camundongo) ou salina (50 mL) foi administrada por via intratraqueal (i.t.) em camundongos C57BL/6, DBA/2 e camundongos BALB/c. Vinte e um dias após a administração de bleomicina, a taxa de mortalidade foi acima de 50% em camundongos C57BL/6 e 20% em DBA/2, enquanto não foi observada em BALB/c. Houve um aumento na elastância (p<0.001), &#916;P2 (p<0.05), &#916;Ptot (p<0.01) e DE,l (p<0.05) em camundongos C57BL/6. O volume dos septos aumentaram em camundongos C57BL/6 (p<0.05) e DBA/2 (p<0.001). Os níveis de INF-&#947; foram reduzidas em camundongos C57BL/6 (p<0.01). Níveis OH-prolina foram aumentados em camundongos C57BL/6 e DBA/2 (p<0.05). Atividade e expressão de SOD foram reduzidas em camundongos C57BL/6 e DBA/2 (p<0.001 e p<0.001, respectivamente), enquanto que a atividade de CAT reduziu em todas as linhagens (C57BL/6: p<0.05; DBA/2: p<0.01, BALB/c: p<0.01). A atividade da GPx e expressão GPx 1/2 diminuiram em camundongos C57BL/6 (p<0.001). Nós concluímos que a resistência da FP pode também estar relacionada com a atividade e expressão de SOD em camundongos BALB/c / The development of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) has been associated with differences in genetic background and oxidative stress status. Our aim was to investigate the cross-talk between the redox profile, lung architecture and function in PF in different mouse strains. A single dose of either bleomycin (0.1 U/mouse) or saline (50 &#956;L) was by intratracheal (i.t.) administration in C57BL/6, DBA/2 and BALB/c mice. Twenty-one days after bleomycin, the mortality rate was over 50% in C57BL/6 and 20% in DBA/2 mice and PF was not observed in BALB/c. There was an increase in Est (p<0.001), &#916;P2 (p<0.05), &#916;Ptot (p<0.01) and &#916;E (p<0.05) in C57BL/6 mice. Septa volume increase in C57BL/6 (p<0.05) and DBA/2 (p<0.001). The levels of INF-&#947; were reduced by in C57BL/6 mice (p <0.01). OH-proline levels were increased in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice (p<0.05). SOD activity and expression was reduced in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice (p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively), whereas CAT was reduced in all strains 21 days following bleomycin when compared to saline groups (C57BL/6: p<0.05; DBA/2: p<0.01, BALB/c: p<0.01). GPx activity and GPx1/2 expression decreased in C57BL/6 (p<0.001). We conclude that the PF resistance may also be related to the activity and expression of SOD in BALB/c

Les microARN sont des petits ARN non codants d’une vingtaine de nucléotides qui ont pour fonction de réguler l’expression des gènes en se fixant sur l’extrémité 3’UTR d’ARNm cibles, permettant ainsi leur dégradation ou l’arrêt de leur traduction en protéines. A ce jour, de nombreuses études ont montré l’implication des microARN dans divers processus physiologiques ou pathologiques ; leur rôle dans la réponse de l’organisme aux substances toxiques environnementales commence à être évoqué.La FPI appartient au groupe des pneumopthies interstitielles diffuses idiopathique dont elle est la forme la plus fréquente. Elle se caractérise par la présence de foyers de prolifération de fibroblastes/myofibroblastes responsables d’une production excessive de matrice extracellulaire, une destruction progressive et irréversible de l’architecture pulmonaire entrainant la perte de la fonction respiratoire. L’agression répétée de l’épithélium respiratoire par des composés chimiques environnementaux (ou xénobiotiques) est fortement suspectée dans le déclenchement de la FPI.Le premier objectif de mes travaux de recherche a été d’identifier des microARN susceptibles d’intervenir dans la pathogenèse de la fibrose pulmonaire idiopathique (FPI) et de préciser la (les) fonction(s) de ces microARN d’intérêt. Pour atteindre cet objectif, nous avons étudié deux microARN, le miR-199a-5p et le miR-214-3p qui présentaient la particularité d’être significativement surexprimés dans les poumons de souris souffrant de fibrose pulmonaire. L’analyse systématique des profils d’expression des gènes de fibroblastes surexprimant le miR-199a-5p et le miR-214-3p nous a permis d’identifier un grand nombre de gènes qui étaient significativement modulés par ces deux microARN. Nous avons pu établir l’implication respective du miR-199a-5p et du miR-214-3p dans la régulation de la voie profibrotique TGFβ et dans l’apoptose des fibroblastes pulmonaires médiée par le Fas-ligand. L’ensemble de nos résultats nous permet de suggérer l’utilisation de molécules ciblées contre ces 2 microARN dans le traitement de la FPI.Le second objectif de mes travaux de recherche a été d’identifier le modèle cellulaire in vitro le plus proche du tissu pulmonaire afin d’étudier l’impact des composés toxiques environnementaux sur la pathogenèse des maladies respiratoires et, en particulier, de la FPI. Pour cela, nous avons comparé les profils d’expression génique de l’ensemble des protéines impliquées dans le métabolisme et l’éliminations des xénobiotiques, de 10 lignées cellulaires et de 4 cultures primaires de cellules épithéliales bronchiques humaines, à ceux précédemment observés par notre équipe dans les tissus broncho-pulmonaires humains. L’exposition du modèle cellulaire le plus pertinent à des polluants atmosphériques permettra d’identifier les microARN associés à la toxicité pulmonaire de ces composés chimiques et de vérifier si ces microARN régulent des voies de signalisations communes à celles impliquées dans la pathogenèse de la FPI. / MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs with about 20 nucleotides that regulate gene expression by binding to the 3' UTR end of target mRNAs, thus allowing their degradation or stopping their translation into proteins. To date, many studies have shown the involvement of microRNAs in various physiological or pathological processes; their role in the body's response to environmental toxic substances is beginning to be mentioned. It is characterized by the presence of fibroblast/myofibroblast proliferation foci responsible for excessive extracellular matrix production, progressive and irreversible destruction of lung architecture leading to loss of respiratory function. The repeated aggression of the respiratory epithelium by environmental (or xenobiotic) chemicals is strongly suspected in the initiation of IVF. The first objective of my research was to identify microRNAs that may be involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IVF) and to specify the function(s) of these microRNAs of interest. To achieve this objective, we studied two microRNAs, miR-199a-5p and miR-214-3p, which had the particularity of being significantly overexpressed in the lungs of mice with pulmonary fibrosis. Systematic analysis of the expression profiles of fibroblast genes overexpressing miR-199a-5p and miR-214-3p allowed us to identify a large number of genes that were significantly modulated by these two microRNAs. We were able to establish the respective involvement of miR-199a-5p and miR-214-3p in the regulation of the profibrotic pathway TGFβ and in Fas-ligand mediated apoptosis of pulmonary fibroblasts. The second objective of my research was to identify the in vitro cellular model closest to lung tissue in order to study the impact of environmental toxic compounds on the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases and, in particular, of IVF. To do this, we compared the gene expression profiles of all proteins involved in the metabolism and elimination of xenobiotics, 10 cell lines and 4 primary cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells, with those previously observed by our team in human bronchopulmonary tissues. Exposure of the most relevant cellular model to air pollutants will identify the microRNAs associated with the pulmonary toxicity of these chemical compounds and verify whether these microRNAs regulate signaling pathways common to those involved in the pathogenesis of IVF.

Introdução: A fibrose pulmonar idiopática (FPI) é uma grave doença pulmonar crônica com sintomas de dispneia progressiva, resultando na diminuição da capacidade de exercício, impactando negativamente na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS). A reabilitação pulmonar (RP) melhora a capacidade funcional (CF) com redução dos sintomas, porém na FPI avançada seus efeitos e magnitudes são pouco conhecidos. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da RP sobre a QVRS e a CF em pacientes portadores de FPI. Métodos: Estudo de coorte retrospectiva em que foram revisados dados de 56 prontuários de pacientes em lista de transplante de pulmão com diagnóstico de FPI de acordo com o consenso da American Toracic Society 2011, submetidos a 12 semanas (36 sessões) de RP ambulatorial entre o período de janeiro de 2008 a outubro de 2012. Foram avaliadas a CF e a QVRS através do teste de caminhada de seis minutos (TC6) e do questionário 36-item short-form survey, SF36, respectivamente, antes e imediatamente após a RP. Resultados: Vinte e sete pacientes foram incluídos no estudo, 16 (61%) gênero masculino com idade média de 53 ±13 anos. Dezoito pacientes (68%) tinham diagnóstico histológico por biópsia pulmonar com padrão de pneumonia intersticial usual (PIU), com tempo médio de diagnóstico de 3 ±1,7 anos. Quanto à classificação da dispneia pela escala modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) basal, 59% dos pacientes foram classificados entre 3-4. Houve aumento significativo na distância percorrida de 393 ±88 metros para 453 ±90 metros (p<0,001). As medianas de dispneia sofreram diminuição significativa (p=0,01) na escala do mMRC de 2 (IC95%: 1-4) para 1 (IC95%: 1-4) e de 5 (Mín/Máx:1-10) para 3 (Mín/Máx:0-10) no BORG de dispneia no final do TC6. Apesar de caminharem maiores distâncias, a fadiga em membros inferiores foi menor com uma mediana de 2 (Mín/Máx:0-10) para 1 (Mín/Máx:0-9) (p=0,02). Houve aumento em 5 dos 8 domínios, porém somente a capacidade funcional foi significativa de 26 (IC95%: 19-33) para 37 (IC95%: 27-48) (p<0,05); os demais domínios não tiveram significância estatística. Conclusão: Observaram-se nestes pacientes aumentos da CF, com diminuição dos sintomas dispneia e fadiga; o que não se refletiu em melhora clínica na QVRS em portadores de FPI em lista de transplante de pulmão após um programa de RP. / Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease with severe symptoms of progressive dyspnea, resulting in decreased exercise capacity, negatively impacting the health-related quality of life (HRQL). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) improves functional capacity (FC) with reduction in symptoms, but in advanced IPF, its effects and magnitudes are unknown. Objective: To evaluate the impact of PR and in HRQL and in FC of patients with IPF. Methods: Coorte study with a retrospective review of data from 56 medical records of patients on lung transplant list diagnosed with IPF according to the American Toracic Society 2011 consensus, submitted to 12 weeks (36 sessions) of outpatient RP between January 2008 and October 2012. The FC and the HRQL were assessed through a six-minute walk test (6MWT) and the 36-item short-form survey (SF36) respectively before and immediately after PR. Results: Twenty-seven patients were included in the study, 16 (61%) male with a mean age of 53 ± 13 years. Eighteen patients (68%) had histologic diagnosis by lung biopsy compatible with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), with median time from diagnosis of 3 ± 1.7 years. Regarding the classification of the dyspnea in the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale, 59% of patients were classified between 3-4. There was a significant increase in the distance covered from 393 ± 88 meters to 453 ± 90 meters (p <0.001). The baseline medians of dyspnea had a significant decrease (p = 0.01) in the mMRC scale from 2 (CI 95%: 1-4) to 1 (CI 95%: 1-4) and the median decreased from 5 (Min/Max: 1-10) to 3 (Min/Max :0-10) in the Borg dyspnea index at the end of the 6MWT. Although the patients walked greater distances, they had less fatigue in the legs, with a median decrease from 2 (Min/Max: 0-10) to 1 (Min/Max: 0-9) (p = 0.02). There was an increase in 5 of the 8 domains, but only the functional capacity was significant: from 26 (CI95%: 19-33) to 37 (CI95%: 27-48) (p <0.05), while the remaining areas were not statistically significant. Conclusion: We observed increases of FC in these patients, with decreased symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue; which were not reflected in clinical improvement in HRQL of patients with IPF on lung transplant list after a PR program.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O desenvolvimento de fibrose pulmonar (FP) induzida por bleomicina tem sido associado com as características genéticas e estresse oxidativo. Nosso objetivo foi investigar a influência do equilíbrio redox sobre a resistência a fibrose pulmonar induzida por bleomicina em diferentes linhagens de camundongos. Uma única dose de bleomicina (0,1 U/camundongo) ou salina (50 mL) foi administrada por via intratraqueal (i.t.) em camundongos C57BL/6, DBA/2 e camundongos BALB/c. Vinte e um dias após a administração de bleomicina, a taxa de mortalidade foi acima de 50% em camundongos C57BL/6 e 20% em DBA/2, enquanto não foi observada em BALB/c. Houve um aumento na elastância (p<0.001), &#916;P2 (p<0.05), &#916;Ptot (p<0.01) e DE,l (p<0.05) em camundongos C57BL/6. O volume dos septos aumentaram em camundongos C57BL/6 (p<0.05) e DBA/2 (p<0.001). Os níveis de INF-&#947; foram reduzidas em camundongos C57BL/6 (p<0.01). Níveis OH-prolina foram aumentados em camundongos C57BL/6 e DBA/2 (p<0.05). Atividade e expressão de SOD foram reduzidas em camundongos C57BL/6 e DBA/2 (p<0.001 e p<0.001, respectivamente), enquanto que a atividade de CAT reduziu em todas as linhagens (C57BL/6: p<0.05; DBA/2: p<0.01, BALB/c: p<0.01). A atividade da GPx e expressão GPx 1/2 diminuiram em camundongos C57BL/6 (p<0.001). Nós concluímos que a resistência da FP pode também estar relacionada com a atividade e expressão de SOD em camundongos BALB/c / The development of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) has been associated with differences in genetic background and oxidative stress status. Our aim was to investigate the cross-talk between the redox profile, lung architecture and function in PF in different mouse strains. A single dose of either bleomycin (0.1 U/mouse) or saline (50 &#956;L) was by intratracheal (i.t.) administration in C57BL/6, DBA/2 and BALB/c mice. Twenty-one days after bleomycin, the mortality rate was over 50% in C57BL/6 and 20% in DBA/2 mice and PF was not observed in BALB/c. There was an increase in Est (p<0.001), &#916;P2 (p<0.05), &#916;Ptot (p<0.01) and &#916;E (p<0.05) in C57BL/6 mice. Septa volume increase in C57BL/6 (p<0.05) and DBA/2 (p<0.001). The levels of INF-&#947; were reduced by in C57BL/6 mice (p <0.01). OH-proline levels were increased in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice (p<0.05). SOD activity and expression was reduced in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice (p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively), whereas CAT was reduced in all strains 21 days following bleomycin when compared to saline groups (C57BL/6: p<0.05; DBA/2: p<0.01, BALB/c: p<0.01). GPx activity and GPx1/2 expression decreased in C57BL/6 (p<0.001). We conclude that the PF resistance may also be related to the activity and expression of SOD in BALB/c