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Multi-omics links IL-6 trans-signalling with neutrophil extracellular trap formation and Haemophilus infection in COPD

Multi-omics links IL-6 trans-signalling with neutrophil extracellular trap formation and Haemophilus infection in COPD
Multi-omics links IL-6 trans-signalling with neutrophil extracellular trap formation and Haemophilus infection in COPD

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-6 trans-signalling (IL-6TS) is emerging as a pathogenic mechanism in chronic respiratory diseases; however, the drivers of IL-6TS in the airways and the phenotypic characteristic of patients with increased IL-6TS pathway activation remain poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to identify and characterise COPD patients with increased airway IL-6TS and to elucidate the biological drivers of IL-6TS pathway activation.

METHODS: We used an IL-6TS-specific sputum biomarker profile (soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β) to stratify sputum data from patients with COPD (n=74; Biomarkers to Target Antibiotic and Systemic Corticosteroid Therapy in COPD Exacerbation (BEAT-COPD)) by hierarchical clustering. The IL-6TS signature was related to clinical characteristics and sputum microbiome profiles. The induction of neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis) and IL-6TS by Haemophilus influenzae were studied in human neutrophils.

RESULTS: Hierarchical clustering revealed an IL-6TS-high subset (n=24) of COPD patients, who shared phenotypic traits with an IL-6TS-high subset previously identified in asthma. The subset was characterised by increased sputum cell counts (p=0.0001), persistent sputum neutrophilia (p=0.0004), reduced quality of life (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire total score; p=0.008), and increased levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and matrix metalloproteinases in sputum. IL-6TS-high COPD patients showed an increase in Proteobacteria, with Haemophilus as the dominating genus. NETosis induced by H. influenzae was identified as a potential mechanism for increased sIL-6R levels. This was supported by a significant positive correlation between sIL-6R and NETosis markers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from COPD patients.

CONCLUSION: IL-6TS pathway activation due to chronic colonisation with Haemophilus may be an important disease driver in a subset of COPD patients.

Extracellular Traps, Haemophilus Infections/complications, Humans, Interleukin-6, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, Quality of Life, Sputum
0903-1936
Winslow, Sofia
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Odqvist, Lina
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Diver, Sarah
e50f2968-9da9-47cd-968a-6e567974a312
Riise, Rebecca
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Abdillahi, Suado
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Wingren, Cecilia
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Lindmark, Helena
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Wellner, Annika
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Lundin, Sofia
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Yrlid, Linda
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Ax, Elisabeth
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Djukanovic, Ratko
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Sridhar, Sriram
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Higham, Andrew
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Singh, Dave
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Southworth, Thomas
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Brightling, Christopher E.
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Olsson, Henric K.
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Jevnikar, Zala
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Winslow, Sofia
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Odqvist, Lina
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Diver, Sarah
e50f2968-9da9-47cd-968a-6e567974a312
Riise, Rebecca
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Abdillahi, Suado
6bd47bf2-1892-42b9-8b43-360a67154e32
Wingren, Cecilia
5e4ce461-5200-4dce-908d-fc02cfd501dc
Lindmark, Helena
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Wellner, Annika
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Lundin, Sofia
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Yrlid, Linda
177d931b-0c61-45b7-a911-49f888ae3e0d
Ax, Elisabeth
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Djukanovic, Ratko
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Sridhar, Sriram
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Higham, Andrew
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Singh, Dave
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Southworth, Thomas
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Brightling, Christopher E.
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Olsson, Henric K.
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Jevnikar, Zala
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Winslow, Sofia, Odqvist, Lina, Diver, Sarah, Riise, Rebecca, Abdillahi, Suado, Wingren, Cecilia, Lindmark, Helena, Wellner, Annika, Lundin, Sofia, Yrlid, Linda, Ax, Elisabeth, Djukanovic, Ratko, Sridhar, Sriram, Higham, Andrew, Singh, Dave, Southworth, Thomas, Brightling, Christopher E., Olsson, Henric K. and Jevnikar, Zala (2021) Multi-omics links IL-6 trans-signalling with neutrophil extracellular trap formation and Haemophilus infection in COPD. European Respiratory Journal, 58 (4). (doi:10.1183/13993003.03312-2020).

Record type: Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-6 trans-signalling (IL-6TS) is emerging as a pathogenic mechanism in chronic respiratory diseases; however, the drivers of IL-6TS in the airways and the phenotypic characteristic of patients with increased IL-6TS pathway activation remain poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to identify and characterise COPD patients with increased airway IL-6TS and to elucidate the biological drivers of IL-6TS pathway activation.

METHODS: We used an IL-6TS-specific sputum biomarker profile (soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β) to stratify sputum data from patients with COPD (n=74; Biomarkers to Target Antibiotic and Systemic Corticosteroid Therapy in COPD Exacerbation (BEAT-COPD)) by hierarchical clustering. The IL-6TS signature was related to clinical characteristics and sputum microbiome profiles. The induction of neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis) and IL-6TS by Haemophilus influenzae were studied in human neutrophils.

RESULTS: Hierarchical clustering revealed an IL-6TS-high subset (n=24) of COPD patients, who shared phenotypic traits with an IL-6TS-high subset previously identified in asthma. The subset was characterised by increased sputum cell counts (p=0.0001), persistent sputum neutrophilia (p=0.0004), reduced quality of life (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire total score; p=0.008), and increased levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and matrix metalloproteinases in sputum. IL-6TS-high COPD patients showed an increase in Proteobacteria, with Haemophilus as the dominating genus. NETosis induced by H. influenzae was identified as a potential mechanism for increased sIL-6R levels. This was supported by a significant positive correlation between sIL-6R and NETosis markers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from COPD patients.

CONCLUSION: IL-6TS pathway activation due to chronic colonisation with Haemophilus may be an important disease driver in a subset of COPD patients.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 4 March 2021
e-pub ahead of print date: 25 March 2021
Published date: 1 October 2021
Keywords: Extracellular Traps, Haemophilus Infections/complications, Humans, Interleukin-6, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, Quality of Life, Sputum

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 453936
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/453936
ISSN: 0903-1936
PURE UUID: 5706927f-337c-4c57-ac3f-6fdad6510f63
ORCID for Ratko Djukanovic: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6039-5612

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Date deposited: 25 Jan 2022 18:27
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 02:32

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Contributors

Author: Sofia Winslow
Author: Lina Odqvist
Author: Sarah Diver
Author: Rebecca Riise
Author: Suado Abdillahi
Author: Cecilia Wingren
Author: Helena Lindmark
Author: Annika Wellner
Author: Sofia Lundin
Author: Linda Yrlid
Author: Elisabeth Ax
Author: Sriram Sridhar
Author: Andrew Higham
Author: Dave Singh
Author: Thomas Southworth
Author: Christopher E. Brightling
Author: Henric K. Olsson
Author: Zala Jevnikar

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