Study Suggests That Blocking Protein IL-6 May Help Protect and Heal Lungs in LAM Patients

By Simon Johnson, MBBS, DM

In individuals with LAM, the lungs have groups of abnormal cells called LAM cells. These cells have a change in their genes that turns on a “growth switch” called the mTOR pathway. When this switch stays on, the cells grow too much and move around the body. They build up in the lungs and in the lymph system.

LAM cells also pull in other cells from the lungs and the immune system. Together, these cells form small clumps called LAM nodules. The nodules make proteins that harm nearby lung tissue. This damage creates holes or “cysts” in the lungs. These cysts can cause lung collapse (pneumothorax) and make it hard to breathe.

Because cysts are such an important part of LAM, scientists asked a new question: Do LAM nodules also stop the lungs from healing themselves after damage?

To find out, the team from Nottingham, UK, with other UK and US researchers studied something called cellular senescence. This happens when cells get old or hurt. They stop dividing but don’t die. These tired cells can get in the way of healthy ones and slow down healing.

The team found that LAM cells make a protein called IL-6. IL-6 can cause other nearby cells to become tired and stop working well. It can even affect lung cells that normally fix damage. People with more severe LAM had higher levels of IL-6 and more of these tired cells.

When lung cells were exposed to IL-6, they didn’t heal as well. But there was good news:

  1. Sirolimus (an mTOR blocker) lowered IL-6 levels and helped reduce cell damage.
  2. Tocilizumab, a medicine used for other diseases, also blocked IL-6 and helped the lung cells repair themselves.

These results suggest that blocking IL-6 might help protect and heal the lungs in women with LAM. Scientists will keep studying how IL-6 works and whether medicines like Tocilizumab could be added to current treatments.

The full article is available to read at https://rdcu.be/eKaHE

Simon Johnson, MBBS, DM

Professor of Respiratory Medicine

Fellow of the European Respiratory Society

Respiratory Theme Lead NIHR Biomedical Research Centre

Director of the National Centre for Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

School of Medicine, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and Biodiscovery Institute

University of Nottingham

 


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