Variability in small airway epithelial gene expression among normal smokers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite overwhelming data that cigarette smoking causes COPD, only a minority of long-term smokers are affected, strongly suggesting that genetic factors modify susceptibility to this disease. We hypothesized that individual variations exist in the response to cigarette smoking, with variability among smokers in expression levels of protective/susceptibility genes.

Methods

Affymetrix arrays and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to assess the variability of gene expression in the small airway epithelium obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscopy of 18 normal nonsmokers, 18 normal smokers, and 18 smokers with COPD.

Results

We identified 201 probe sets representing 152 smoking-responsive genes that were significantly up-regulated or down-regulated, and

SUBMITTER: Ammous Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3632367 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature