Alveolar Macrophage Transcriptional Programs are Associated with Ventilator-Free Days in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

ABSTRACT: Rationale: Serial measurements of genome-wide transcriptional changes in alveolar macrophages (AMs) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) could identify dynamic biologic processes that are associated with clinical outcomes. Objectives: To identify associations between AM transcriptional programs and the composite endpoint of ventilator-free days (VFDs) over the course of ARDS. Methods: We performed unbiased genome-wide transcriptional profiling of AMs purified from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collected from patients with ARDS. Cells were obtained at baseline (Day 1), Day 4, and Day 8 after ARDS onset. We assessed pathway enrichment in subjects with VFDs > 0 (VFD-Extubated/Alive) versus VFDs = 0 (VFD-Intubated/Dead) at each time point. Measurements and Main Results: We found highly divergent AM transcriptional patterns at all time points between ARDS patients based on their VFD status (FDR < 0.05). “M1-like” and pro-inflammatory gene sets such as IL-6-JAK-STAT signaling were significantly enriched in AMs isolated on Day 1 in VFD-Extubated/Alive versus VFD-Intubated/Dead subjects. In contrast, many of these same gene sets were associated with the VFD-Intubated/Dead subjects on Day 8. In patients who had samples from each time point, we identified multiple AM gene clusters whose temporal expression patterns were associated with VFD status. The relationship between AM expression profiles and VFDs was distinct in subjects with Direct (pulmonary) versus Indirect (extrapulmonary) ARDS. Conclusion: Clinically meaningful outcomes over the course of ARDS are associated with highly distinct AM transcriptional programs. Our findings suggest that interventions targeting the alveolar immune response should be tested within strictly defined time periods.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE116560 | GEO | 2019/03/31

REPOSITORIES: GEO