Mucus Plugs-associated Gene Expression Identifies Pathophysiology Shared with Chronic Bronchitis.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Mucus plug formation and chronic bronchitis are manifestations of mucus pathology in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Identifying gene expression changes related to mucus pathology could provide insight into its pathogenesis.

Objectives

To investigate gene expression changes in individuals with mucus plugs, identify related biological pathways, and assess whether mucus plug-related gene expression associates with clinical features of other mucus pathologies.

Methods

We studied 290 participants from the Detection of Early Lung Cancer Among Military Personnel 2 study with mainstem bronchial brush bulk RNA-sequencing data (n = 204 discovery, n = 86 validation). We scored mucus plugging based on the number of lung segments with mucus plugs identified on ch

SUBMITTER: Souery WN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12560677 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature