Effects of interferon-γ 1b on biomarker expression in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

In a recent study of IFN-gamma 1b in 330 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), progression-free survival was unchanged; however, a trend toward lower mortality was seen in IFN-gamma 1b-treated patients compared with placebo-treated patients (9.9 vs. 16.7%; p = 0.08). The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to characterize molecular effects of subcutaneous IFN-gamma 1b (200 mug) thrice weekly for 6 months versus placebo in 32 patients with IPF. Messenger RNA in transbronchial lung biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage cell pellet and protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and plasma were evaluated. After IFN-gamma 1b treatment, IFN-inducible T cell-alpha chemoattractant/CXCL11 (a chemokine with immunomodulatory, antiangiogenic, and defensin-like antimicrobial properties) increased in BALF (p = 0.016) and plasma (p < 0.001); BALF levels of epithelial neutrophil-activating protein-78/CXCLS (p = 0.054), platelet-derived growth factor A (p = 0.033), and Type I procollagen (p = 0.096) were lower, and IFN-gamma levels were higher (p = 0.093) versus placebo. For messenger RNA in transbronchial biopsies, trends (p > 0.05 and less than or equal to 0.10) associated with IFN-gamma 1b treatment included an increase in IFNI-inducible T cell-alpha chemoattractant/CXCL11, a decrease in elastin, and smaller increases for Type III procollagen and platelet-derived growth factor B. Changes in biomarkers of fibrosis, angiogenesis, proliferation, immunomodulation, and antimicrobial activity suggest that IFN-gamma 1b may affect IPF through multiple pathways.