Project description:Gene expression profiles were generated from induced sputum samples in asthma and healthy controls. The study identified differential gene expression and pathways in severe asthma.
Project description:Induced sputum is used to sample inflammatory cells, predominantly neutrophils and macrophages, from the airways of COPD patients. Our aim was to identify candidate genes associated with the degree of airflow obstruction and the extent of emphysema by expression profiling, and then to confirm these findings for selected candidates using specific PCR and protein analysis. Two sputum studies were performed in GOLD stage 2 -4 COPD ex-smokers from the ECLIPSE cohort. First, gene array profiling at baseline in 1480 patients was performed. At year 1, samples from a separate population of 176 patients were used for real-time PCR. The gene expression findings for IL-18R were further analysed using immunohistochemistry in lung tissue and induced sputum samples from patients outside the ECLIPSE cohort.
Project description:Sputum cells collected before (visit 2) and after (visit 4) allergen challenge in asthma patients were isolated and RNA purified for analysis on gene expression arrays. Human subject recruitment part of NIH sponsored protocol as part of the Eosinophil Program Project Grant (PI: Dr. Nizar Jarjour) Sputum cell RNA collected from induced sputum cells before and 48 hours after whole-lung allergen challenge.
Project description:Induced sputum is used to sample inflammatory cells, predominantly neutrophils and macrophages, from the airways of COPD patients. Our aim was to identify candidate genes associated with the degree of airflow obstruction and the extent of emphysema by expression profiling, and then to confirm these findings for selected candidates using specific PCR and protein analysis.
Project description:Background: Macrophages are important cells in pathogenesis of obstructive lung diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of the study was a multivariate, genetic, comparative analysis of macrophages from patients with asthma and COPD. Methods: Macrophages were isolated from induced sputum (IS) by magnetic bead separation. Transcriptomic measurements were carried out using Affymetrix Human Gene 2.1 ST ArrayStrip in 17 samples: 8 asthma (4 ICS naive , 4 ICS treated), 4 COPD and 5 control samples. The expression of the most significantly differentiating genes was evaluated by real time PCR in 34 samples (15 patients with asthma, 11 patients with COPD and 17 controls). Results: USP53 was the only gene differentially expressed (p adjusted clue =0.09) in the comparison between ICS naïve and ICS treated asthma. The PCR verification showed increased expression of BTF3, CDS2, DNAJC13, DDX5, GNAI2, SCGB1A1, SIRPB1, TRAF3IP, USP53, WDR49 in the asthma compared to COPD group. The changed gene expression profile of macrophages were characterized mostly by gene ontology terms linked with cell motility, cilium function, cell junction and adhesion organization. Conclusions: Gene expression profiling of sputum macrophages revealed distinct molecular capacity in asthma and COPD. The role of sputum macrophages in the pathophysiology of obstructive lung diseases is probably connected with biological processes associated with their motility, cilium dysfunction and cell junction organization.
Project description:Several microRNAs (miRs) have been described as potential biomarkers in liquid biopsies and in the context of allergic asthma, while therapeutic effects on the airway expression of miRs remain elusive. In this study, we investigated epigenetic miR-associated mechanisms in the sputum of grass pollen allergic patients with and without allergen specific immunotherapy (AIT). Induced sputum samples of healthy controls (HC), AIT treated and untreated grass pollen allergic rhinitis patients with (AA) and without asthma (AR) were profiled using miR microarray and transcriptome microarray analysis of the same samples. miR targets were predicted in silico and used to identify inverse regulation. Local PGE2 levels were measured using ELISA. Two Hundred and fifty nine miRs were upregulated in the sputum of AA patients compared with HC, while only one was downregulated. The inverse picture was observed in induced sputum of AIT-treated patients: while 21 miRs were downregulated, only 4 miRs were upregulated in asthmatics upon AIT. Of these 4 miRs, miR3935 stood out, as its predicted target PTGER3, the prostaglandin EP3 receptor, was downregulated in treated AA patients compared with untreated. The levels of its ligand PGE2 in the sputum supernatants of these samples were increased in allergic patients, especially asthmatics, and downregulated after AIT. Finally, local PGE2 levels correlated with ILC2 frequencies, secreted sputum IL13 levels, inflammatory cell load, sputum eosinophils and symptom burden.While profiling the sputum of allergic patients for novel miR expression patterns, we uncovered an association between miR3935 and its predicted target gene, the prostaglandin E3 receptor, which might mediate AIT effects through suppression of the PGE2-PTGER3 axis.
Project description:Chronic respiratory diseases are a growing burden, and potentially life-threatening condition if left untreated. It is an urgent medical concern that requires proper diagnosis, treatment, and management to prevent serious complications. Analyzing induced sputum is a non-invasive approach for investigating the mechanisms and progression of respiratory diseases. It allows for the collection of sputum samples without disrupting the patient's normal life. By analyzing the proteins and other molecular substances present in the sputum, it can provide valuable insights into the pathological changes and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for respiratory diseases. In this study, we carried out proteomic analysis of three types of sputum collected from patients with chronic respiratory diseases using three different digestion methods. In comparison, FASP method was found to be more efficient than In-gel digestion and in-solution digestions, yielding the highest number of unique protein identifications. Integrate the proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling of three types of sputum, it was observed that raw sputum samples exhibited a higher number of unique protein and phosphoprotein identifications. Our study provides valuable insights into the application of proteomics to the analysis of sputum samples, and serves as a useful resource for understanding the potential of this approach in the study of respiratory diseases.