Retrospective immunohistological study of autopsied lungs in patients with acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia managed with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Introduction

Acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia (AE-IP) is a life-threatening condition characterized by acute worsening of dyspnea and progressive bilateral radiographic infiltrates (1-3). Pharmacological interventions such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressants are limited (4,5). These patients require prolonged mechanical ventilation as supportive care (6). However, high driving pressures and oxygen concentrations are usually needed during ventilation care because of low lung compliance and oxygenation capacity, which are highly associated with worsening lung injury and poor outcome (6,7).

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) is an emerging tool for patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (8). Damaged lungs are particularly vulnerable to the mechanical stress of ventilation (9-11); therefore, respiratory management using ECMO may reduce alveolar epithelial damage and thereby improve the survival rate (12). In addition, serum, epithelial, endothelial, and inflammatory biomarkers are associated with patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (13). Some pathological processes and findings of the diffuse alveolar damage pattern are similar between ARDS and AE-IP (14-18).

Thus, we hypothesize that lung protective management using V-V ECMO could aid in minimizing alveolar epithelial injury and the resultant fibrosis in patients with AE-IP, and serum, epithelial, endothelial, and inflammatory biomarkers, that are relevant for ARDS (13), of AE-IP patients are decreased if V-V ECMO reduce the risk of VILI. However, histopathological evaluations of the lungs in patients with AE-IP who undergo V-V ECMO are not well investigated. The aim of the study was to compare the pathological changes in the expressions of various biomarkers in the autopsied lungs of patients with AE-IP who were managed with and without V-V ECMO.

Methods

Study patients

The total number of AE-IP patients who were admitted in the ICU at the Hiroshima University Hospital between January, 2010 and December, 2016 was eighty-seven patients. We retrospectively collected lung tissue specimens from consecutive patients who underwent autopsy (n=15) and who were diagnosed with AE-IP and were treated with mechanical ventilation. Lung specimens were sampled within 48 hours after the patients’ death. Patients’ were divided into two groups: (I) patients who were managed with mechanical ventilation alone or with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (the ventilator group, n=6) and (II) patients who were managed with mechanical ventilation plus V-V ECMO (the ECMO group, n=9). The patients’ characteristics were retrospectively extracted from the medical records, and included age, sex, serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) value, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and duration of V-V ECMO. The experiments in this study comply with the current laws of Japan, and were approved by the ethics committee in our institution (Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan; project approval No.: RIN-231).

Definition and diagnosis of AE-IP

The diagnosis of AE-IP was determined, based on the current recommendations, as follows (19): (I) worsening dyspnea within days to weeks; (II) abnormal gas exchange, as defined by a low partial pressure of arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO₂/F_IO₂) ratio or a decrease in PaO₂; (III) new radiographic opacities such as ground-grass areas, irregular linear opacities, and honeycombing without any signs suggestive of bacterial pneumonia, left heart failure, or pulmonary embolism (20,21); and (IV) elevated serum levels of fibrosis biomarkers such as lactate dehydrogenase, pulmonary surfactant protein D (SP-D), and KL-6.

Mechanical ventilation and ECMO management

For all patients in the ventilator group, the ventilation mode was pressure-controlled assist-control ventilation, airway pressure release ventilation, or high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. The decision to initiate mechanical ventilation was at the discretion of the attending physician. The PaO₂ and PaCO₂ were maintained to approximately 60–70 and 40–55 mmHg, respectively, with a limiting plateau-pressure of <40 cmH₂O, while avoiding hyperoxemia (i.e., SpO₂ <96% or PaO₂ <80 mmHg).

The criteria for initiating V-V ECMO to treat AE-IP were a PaO₂/F_IO₂ ratio <100, pH <7.2, and/or severe respiratory distress (e.g., tachypnea). The exclusion criterion was an age of 70 years or above.

The V-V ECMO treatment was established within at least 7 days from starting mechanical ventilation, and as early as possible after meeting the criteria. The ECMO flow was set at 3.5–4.0 L/min with a targeted SpO₂ of 85%–90%. For all patients managed with ECMO, unfractionated heparin was used for anticoagulation with a targeted activated partial thromboplastin time of 1.5–2.5 times normal. Patients were sedated with midazolam, dexmedetomidine, and/or fentanyl. Spontaneous breathing was mostly inhibited. In our institution, initiating V-V ECMO in patients is attempted immediately after patients meet the criteria for ECMO to avoid causing further alveolar damage due to prolonged high-pressure settings of mechanical ventilation. The setting of the ventilator in the ECMO group was as follows: F_IO₂ of approximately 0.21 and high positive end-expiratory pressure and peak pressure <30 cmH₂O. We recorded the ventilator settings of F_IO₂ and mean airway pressure (MAP) and calculated the F_IO₂ × MAP as a marker of invasive ventilation.

Histological evaluation and immunohistochemistry

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of lung specimens were retrieved from the autopsy of Hiroshima University Hospital (Hiroshima, Japan). Numerous microsections stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson-trichrome, and elastica van Gieson were reviewed by two pathologists (VJ Amatya and Y Takeshima). Fibrosis was evaluated in Masson-trichrome-stained microsections.

Immunohistochemistry of the biomarkers, except KL-6, was conducted using microsections prepared from the patients’ best representative formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted using an automated immunohistochemical station (Benchmark GX; Ventana-Roche, Tokyo, Japan) with the Ultraview Universal DAB Detection Kit (Ventana-Roche, Los Angeles, CA, USA). The antigen was retrieved by using the Cell Conditioning 1 solution (Ventana-Roche, Los Angeles, CA, USA). The antibodies used in this study were SP-D (Bioss Antibodies, Woburn, MA, USA), angiopoietin 2 (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA), receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) (R&D), IL-6 (R&D), and IL-8 (Proteintech Group, Rosemont, IL, USA). The microsection was counterstained with Mayer’s hematoxylin.

For immunohistochemistry of anti-KL-6, the anti-KL-6 mouse IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), purified using a protein A affinity column (Affi Gel Protein A MAPS II Kit; Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA) from the ascites collected from mice bearing anti-KL-6 mAb-producing hybridomas as previously described (22), was used. The slides were immersed in Target Retrieval Solution, Citrate pH 6 (Dako Japan, Tokyo, Japan) and boiled at 108 °C for 15 minutes in an autoclave for antigen retrieval. After blocking endogenous peroxidase activity with 0.03% hydrogen peroxide for 30 minutes, a mouse anti-human KL-6 mAb was added to the sections. Sections were incubated with a secondary antibody, horseradish peroxidase-labeled antimouse immunoglobulin G (IgG), followed by the addition of a substrate-chromogen. It was then counterstained with Mayer’s hematoxylin.

Immunohistochemical evaluation was independently semi-quantified by VJA and YK. A “positive case” was defined as immunoreactive expression on >20% of alveolar cells and a “strong positive case” was defined as immunoreactive expression on >50% of alveolar cells. For the histochemical assessment of the specimens, the pathologists were blinded to the clinical course and treatments.

Statistical analysis

All data are expressed as the median and interquartile range. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 23.0 for Mac (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Differences were statistically significant at P<0.05. Non-normally distributed variables between the two groups were compared by using the Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables between the two groups were compared by using Fisher’s exact probability and the chi-square test.

Results

Patients’ characteristics

The patients’ ages and sex were similar between the ventilator and ECMO groups (median age, 65 vs. 64 years; P=1.00). APACHE II scores were significantly different between the two groups (14.5 vs. 35.0; P=0.006). Serum KL-6 levels at the time of admission into the ICU, at 7 days after ICU admission, and at 14 days after ICU admission were not significantly different between the two groups. The ventilator days were significantly shorter in the ventilator group than in the ECMO group (17.5 vs. 30.0 days;P=0.04). The duration of ICU stay was also shorter in the ventilator group than in the ECMO group (17.5 vs. 30 days; P=0.02). The F_IO₂ × MAP values on day 0, day 7, and day 14 tended to be lower in the ECMO group than in the ventilator group (4.8 vs. 12.3, P=0.01; 8.4 vs. 5.6, P=0.76; and 5.2 vs. 13.7, P=0.12, respectively) (Table 1).

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the patients
Full table

The values are expressed as the median [interquartile range]. APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation; ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; F_IO2, fraction of inspired oxygen; ICU, intensive care unit; KL-6, Krebs von den Lungen-6; MAP, mean airway pressure.

Histological and immunohistological findings

The results of the histological and immunohistological studies are summarized in Table 2. Fibrosis (Masson-trichrome stain) and KL-6 and IL-8 immunoreactivity were stronger in the ventilator group than in the ECMO group (Figure 1 and Table 2). Positive staining for SP-D showed a decreased trend in the ECMO group (Table 2).

Table 2 Positive ratio of immunohistological staining
Full table

Figure 1 Immunohistological images of autopsied lung specimens. Masson-trichrome staining is stronger in the ventilator group (A) than in the ECMO group (B) (magnification, 400×). Pulmonary surfactant protein D immunoreactivity is stronger in the ventilator group (C) than in the ECMO group (D) (magnification, 400×). Krebs von den Lungen-6 immunoreactivity is stronger in the ventilator group (E) than in the ECMO group (F) (magnification, 400×). ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

In both groups, type II alveolar epithelial cells exhibited inflammatory proteins (IL-6 and IL-8) and epithelial and angiogenetic proteins (Ang2 and RAGE) (Figures 2 and 3). In addition, IL-8 tended to be expressed in fibroblasts.

Figure 2 Immunohistological images of autopsied lung specimens. IL-6 immunoreactivity is not significantly difference between in the ventilator group (A) and in the ECMO group (B) (magnification, 400×). IL-8 immunoreactivity is stronger in the ventilator group (C) than in the ECMO group (D) (magnification, 400×). ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; IL-6, interleukin 6; IL-8, interleukin 8.

Figure 3 Immunohistological images of autopsied lung specimens. Ang2 immunoreactivity is not significantly differences between in the ventilator group (A) and in the ECMO group (B) (magnification, 400×). RAGE immunoreactivity is not significantly difference between in the ventilator group (C) and in the ECMO group (D) (magnification, 400×). Ang2, angiopoietin 2; ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; RAGE, receptor for advanced glycosylation end products.

Discussion

This study showed that positive staining of index of fibrosis with Masson’s trichrome stain and the IP marker of KL-6, were stronger in the ventilator group compared with the ECMO group, despite the longer ventilator days in the ECMO group. In addition, IL-8 was less frequently expressed in the ECMO group than that in the ventilator group. These data suggest that the management using V-V ECMO for AE-IP patients might have suppressed fibrosis, inflammation and alveolar epithelial damage.

The fibrosis marker KL-6 was strongly expressed on type II alveolar pneumocytes and bronchiolar epithelial cells in patients diagnosed as having IP (23). Surfactant protein D has been reported as a useful biomarker for AE-IP (24). The expression of SP-D is evidenced on alveolar type II cells and the Clara cells (25). Inflammation of the lungs is promoted by IL-8, which indirectly triggers fibrosis. The decreased release of IL-8 from alveolar epithelial type II cells and macrophages due to alleviating lung stretch by diminishing ventilatory stress could have caused lung inflammation and subsequent fibrosis in the ECMO group (26,27).

No significant difference existed in the positive staining ratio of Ang2 and RAGE between the ECMO group and the ventilator group. Angiopoietin 2 is an endothelial growth factor and regulates vascular permeability (28). The serum Ang2 level reflects pulmonary damage and pulmonary inflammation in patients with AE-IP (29). In addition, RAGE is expressed on the basolateral membrane of alveolar type I and II epithelial cells in the lung (30). It has been implicated in the lung fibrotic process and in alveolar homeostasis (31). Based on our findings, a tendency for the suppression of RAGE in the ECMO group suggested the involvement of endothelial injury and inflammation. The exact roles and function of these markers remain to be explored (32).

The mortality rate for patients with AE-IP receiving mechanical ventilation is extremely high (6). The reasons for the high mortality may be the rapid progressive nature of diffuse alveolar damage, which may be partly caused by mechanical ventilation. In this study, lung protective ventilator settings, evaluated by using the F_IO₂/MAP ratio, tended to be lower in the ECMO group. This finding may suggest the contribution of V-V ECMO support in decreasing the ventilator settings and subsequently decreasing lung injury.

Our study has several limitations. First, this study was retrospective and included a limited number of patients, which may cause a beta-error. The limited number of patients is because of the scarcity of the disease itself and the difficulty in obtaining consent for an autopsy. Second, patient characteristics between the two groups were not comparable because patients with cases of more severe pulmonary cases tended to have ECMO therapy. Third, since the data on histological examination of patients before mechanical ventilation in both the groups was not available, the changes during the treatment period were not able to be examined. Thus, because of the nature of the study did not allow the study of the influence of several important factors that might have affected lung tissue (i.e., immunosuppressive drugs and bacterial, viral and fungal infections) were not studied. Fourthly, the positive rate of antibody cannot be quantified by qualitative evaluation alone in a histopathological examination. Fifthly, validation is necessary in a biopsy to assess the relevance of evaluating the histological findings.

Conclusions

The immunohistochemical and histological evaluations of autopsied lungs from patients with AE-IP suggested that the application of V-V ECMO may be associated with alleviating alveolar epithelial injury, inflammation, and collagen synthesis in the lungs. Further studies would need to reveal the detail of mechanism of progression of fibrosis in AE-IP patients and its attenuating effects of lung protective management.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge Dr. Kakuhiro Yamaguchi (University of Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan) for his assistance in the immunohistochemical evaluations.

Funding: This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS; Tokyo, Japan) KAKENHI (grant No. JP17K17052).

Footnote

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. The experiments in this study comply with the current laws of Japan, and were approved by the ethics committee in our institution (Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan; project approval No.: RIN-231).

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