Role of Fibrocytes in the Bronchial Remodelling of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (FIBROCHIR)

Airway remodelling is an abnormal tissue repair following bronchial inflammation, which contributes to none reversible pathological features, such as bronchial and peri-bronchial fibrosis. It also influences the prognosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and its mechanisms remain largely unknown. The role of fibrocytes has been demonstrated in the pathophysiology of asthma, lung fibrosis or pulmonary hypertension. However, the recruitment of blood fibrocytes and their involvement in COPD airway remodelling remain unknown.

The main objective of the study is to analyse the distribution and quantify the number of the peri-bronchial and blood circulating fibrocytes in patients with different stages of COPD compared to control subjects.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: analyse the distribution and quantify the number of the peri-bronchial and blood circulating fibrocytes in patients

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Pessac, France, 33604
    • University hospital of Bordeaux, Hôpital du Haut Lévêque

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Study Population

Controls and COPD patients will be recruited during surgical visit or hospitalization in thoracic surgery department before surgery.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female aged more than 40 yr
• Patient needed a thoracic surgery such as lobectomy for cancer or lung transplantation or lung reduction volume surgery.
• COPD group: diagnostic of COPD and differentiation of the stage from 1 to 4 according to the GOLD guidelines.
• Control group: subjects with normal lung function testing and no chronic symptoms (cough or expectoration). Subjects will be separated in 2 groups according to smoking history (Never smokers, smokers (former or current) and paired to patients according to age and sex.
• with a written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subject without any social security or health insurance
• Asthma, lung fibrosis or idiopathic pulmonary hypertension
• Chronic viral infections (hepatitis, HIV)
• Pregnant woman or breastfeeding
• Subject included for cancer surgery with a Pn0 diagnosis not confirmed after the intervention.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Screening
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: COPD; 15 patients with COPD from 1 to 4 according to the GOLD 2011	Biological: analyse the distribution and quantify the number of the peri-bronchial and blood circulating fibrocytes in patients; analyse the distribution and quantify the number of the peri-bronchial and blood circulating fibrocytes in patients
Placebo Comparator: Non smoker Control; 15 patients without COPD and no smoking history	Biological: analyse the distribution and quantify the number of the peri-bronchial and blood circulating fibrocytes in patients; analyse the distribution and quantify the number of the peri-bronchial and blood circulating fibrocytes in patients
Active Comparator: Smoker Control; 15 patients without COPD but a smoking history	Biological: analyse the distribution and quantify the number of the peri-bronchial and blood circulating fibrocytes in patients; analyse the distribution and quantify the number of the peri-bronchial and blood circulating fibrocytes in patients

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Increased number of peri-bronchial and blood circulating fibrocytes gradually in each stages of COPD and compared to control subjects.	Lung tissues and blood samples will be collected at inclusion visit during surgery (Day 0)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Characterization of fibrocytes: expression of chemokines receptors, Toll Like Receptors, HLA class II	Lung tissues and blood samples will be collected at inclusion visit during surgery (Day 0)
Correlation between lung attenuation and the number of fibrocytes	Assessed one year after inclusion visit (i.e. surgery date =Day 0)
Correlation between plethysmography and the number of fibrocytes.	Assessed one year after inclusion visit (i.e. surgery date = Day 0)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Bordeaux
• Investigators: Study Chair: Nicholas MOORE, MD-PhD, University Hospital, Bordeaux

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Henrot P, Beaufils F, Thumerel M, Eyraud E, Boudoussier A, Begueret H, Maurat E, Girodet PO, Marthan R, Berger P, Dupin I, Zysman M. Circulating fibrocytes as a new tool to predict lung cancer progression after surgery? Eur Respir J. 2021 Dec 9;58(6):2101221. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01221-2021. Print 2021 Dec. No abstract available.
• Dupin I, Thumerel M, Maurat E, Coste F, Eyraud E, Begueret H, Trian T, Montaudon M, Marthan R, Girodet PO, Berger P. Fibrocyte accumulation in the airway walls of COPD patients. Eur Respir J. 2019 Sep 5;54(3):1802173. doi: 10.1183/13993003.02173-2018. Print 2019 Sep.
• Eyraud E, Maurat E, Sac-Epee JM, Henrot P, Zysman M, Esteves P, Trian T, Dupuy JW, Leipold A, Saliba AE, Begueret H, Girodet PO, Thumerel M, Hustache-Castaing R, Marthan R, Levet F, Vallois P, Contin-Bordes C, Berger P, Dupin I. Short-range interactions between fibrocytes and CD8+ T cells in COPD bronchial inflammatory response. Elife. 2023 Jul 26;12:RP85875. doi: 10.7554/eLife.85875.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 10, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 20, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): May 20, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 17, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 20, 2012
• First Posted (Estimated): September 25, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 5, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Fibrosis; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Fibroblast; Lung attenuation; Pletysmography
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Fibrosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: CHUBX 2011/34; 2012-A00571-42 (Other Identifier: ANSM)