ArticlePloS one2011
Immunoglobulin free light chains are increased in hypersensitivity pneumonitis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Article in PloS one, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 47 citations in OpenAlex.
- Diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis in Adults. An Official ATS/JRS/ALAT Clinical Practice Guideline.American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine · 2020Guideline
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- Salivary Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Sjögren's Syndrome: A Review of the Last Decade.Biomedicines · 2025Review
- Cromolyn sodium reduces LPS-induced pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the EMT process enhanced by MC-derived IL-13.Respiratory research · 2025Article
- Free Light ChainsInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2023Review
- Plasma cell but not CD20-mediated B-cell depletion protects from bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis.The European respiratory journal · 2022Article
- Differential mast cell numbers and characteristics in human tuberculosis pulmonary lesions.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- Regulatory Immune Cells in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Friends or Foes?Frontiers in immunology · 2021Review
- A Pathophysiological Perspective on COVID-19's Lethal Complication: From Viremia to Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis-like Immune Dysregulation.Infection & chemotherapy · 2020Review
- Low serum free light chain is associated with risk of COPD exacerbation.ERJ open research · 2020Article
- Complex Stability and an Irrevertible Transition Reverted by Peptide and Fibroblasts in a Dynamic Model of Innate Immunity.Frontiers in immunology · 2019Article
- The systemic nature of mustard lung: Comparison with COPD patients.Interdisciplinary toxicology · 2017Review
- Differential diagnosis of granulomatous lung disease: clues and pitfalls: Number 4 in the Series "Pathology for the clinician" Edited by Peter Dorfmüller and Alberto Cavazza.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2017Review
- Expression profiling of genes regulated by Fra-1/AP-1 transcription factor during bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.BMC genomics · 2013Article
- Profibrotic activities for matrix metalloproteinase-8 during bleomycin-mediated lung injury.Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) · 2013Article
- Polyclonal free light chains: a biomarker of inflammatory disease or treatment target?F1000 medicine reports · 2013Article
- Polyclonal immunoglobulin free light chain and chronic inflammation.Mayo Clinic proceedings · 2012Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a devastating lung disorder of unknown aetiology, and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), a disease provoked by an immunopathologic reaction to inhaled antigens, are two common interstitial lung diseases with uncertain pathogenic mechanisms. Previously, we have shown in other upper and lower airway diseases that immunoglobulin free light chains (FLCs) are increased and may be involved in initiating a local inflammation. In this study we explored if such a mechanism may also apply to HP and IPF.
methodsIn this study we examined the presence of FLC in serum and BAL fluid from 21 IPF and 22 HP patients and controls. IgG, IgE and tryptase concentrations were measured in BAL fluid only. The presence of FLCs, plasma cells, B cells and mast cells in lung tissue of 3 HP and 3 IPF patients and 1 control was analyzed using immunohistochemistry.
resultsFLC concentrations in serum and BAL fluid were increased in IPF and HP patients as compared to control subjects. IgG concentrations were only increased in HP patients, whereas IgE concentrations were comparable to controls in both patient groups. FLC-positive cells, B cells, plasma cells, and large numbers of activated mast cells were all detected in the lungs of HP and IPF patients, not in control lung.
conclusionThese results show that FLC concentrations are increased in serum and BAL fluid of IPF and HP patients and that FLCs are present within affected lung tissue. This suggests that FLCs may be involved in mediating pathology in both diseases.
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