Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disease associated with rapid evolving interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), driving its mortality. Specific biomarkers associated with the progression of this lung disease are highly needed. We aimed to identify specific biomarkers of SSc-ILD to predict the evolution of the disease.
Methods: We compared prospectively serum levels of several biomarkers associated with lung fibrosis in SSc patients (n=102), among which SSc-no ILD (n=63) and SSc-ILD (n=39), compared to healthy subjects (HS) (n=39). We also performed a longitudinal study in a subgroup of 28 patients analyzing biomarkers variations and pulmonary function tests over a period of 2 years. Furthermore, we performed in vitro analysis to study the impact of Insulin like Growth Factor Binding Protein (IGFBP)-2 on fibrotic activity of human lung fibroblasts.
Results: Serum levels of IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, interleukin-8 and matrix metallopeptidase-9 were significantly increased in SSc patients compared to HS while IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were reduced. The variation of IGFBP-2 between baseline and 2-year follow-up was positively correlated with pulmonary function (assessed by carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO)) at 2-year follow-up (r=0.6, p<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis enabled us to identify that baseline IGFBP-2<105 ng/ml was associated with a better outcome (low risk to display KCO<70% predicted) at 2-year follow-up (area under the curve=0.75 at 75% sensibility and 68% specificity, p<0.05). In vitro functional study showed that IGFBP-2 significantly reduced fibroblast proliferation and pro-fibrotic activity.
Conclusions: We showed for the first time that serum levels of IGFBP-2 might predict the evolution of SSc-ILD. Baseline IGFBP-2 above 105 ng/ml might be a prognostic factor of alveolo-capillary dysfunction.

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This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
Table S1. Serum variation of biomarkers between baseline and 2-year follow-up.
Table S1. Serum variation of biomarkers between baseline and 2-year follow-up.
Table S2. Correlation between biomarkers and pulmonary function tests at 2-year follow-up.
Table S2. Correlation between biomarkers and pulmonary function tests at 2-year follow-up.
Additional file 3: Supplementary Figure S1. Method used to assess the better cut-off point.
Additional file 3: Supplementary Figure S1. Method used to assess the better cut-off point.
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Posted 15 Dec, 2020
Posted 15 Dec, 2020
Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disease associated with rapid evolving interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), driving its mortality. Specific biomarkers associated with the progression of this lung disease are highly needed. We aimed to identify specific biomarkers of SSc-ILD to predict the evolution of the disease.
Methods: We compared prospectively serum levels of several biomarkers associated with lung fibrosis in SSc patients (n=102), among which SSc-no ILD (n=63) and SSc-ILD (n=39), compared to healthy subjects (HS) (n=39). We also performed a longitudinal study in a subgroup of 28 patients analyzing biomarkers variations and pulmonary function tests over a period of 2 years. Furthermore, we performed in vitro analysis to study the impact of Insulin like Growth Factor Binding Protein (IGFBP)-2 on fibrotic activity of human lung fibroblasts.
Results: Serum levels of IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, interleukin-8 and matrix metallopeptidase-9 were significantly increased in SSc patients compared to HS while IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were reduced. The variation of IGFBP-2 between baseline and 2-year follow-up was positively correlated with pulmonary function (assessed by carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO)) at 2-year follow-up (r=0.6, p<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis enabled us to identify that baseline IGFBP-2<105 ng/ml was associated with a better outcome (low risk to display KCO<70% predicted) at 2-year follow-up (area under the curve=0.75 at 75% sensibility and 68% specificity, p<0.05). In vitro functional study showed that IGFBP-2 significantly reduced fibroblast proliferation and pro-fibrotic activity.
Conclusions: We showed for the first time that serum levels of IGFBP-2 might predict the evolution of SSc-ILD. Baseline IGFBP-2 above 105 ng/ml might be a prognostic factor of alveolo-capillary dysfunction.

Figure 1

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 5
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
Table S1. Serum variation of biomarkers between baseline and 2-year follow-up.
Table S1. Serum variation of biomarkers between baseline and 2-year follow-up.
Table S2. Correlation between biomarkers and pulmonary function tests at 2-year follow-up.
Table S2. Correlation between biomarkers and pulmonary function tests at 2-year follow-up.
Additional file 3: Supplementary Figure S1. Method used to assess the better cut-off point.
Additional file 3: Supplementary Figure S1. Method used to assess the better cut-off point.
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