Quantitative proteomics of airway epithelial cells from COPD and control pre- and post-influenza virus infection

ABSTRACT: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) collectively refers to chronic and progressive lung diseases causing not fully reversible limitations in airflow. COPD patients are at high risk for severe respiratory symptoms upon influenza virus infection. Airway epithelial cells provide the first-line antiviral defense, but whether their susceptibility and response to influenza virus infection changes in COPD has not been elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to i) compare the susceptibility of COPD- and control-derived airway epithelium to influenza virus, and ii) assess protein changes during influenza virus infection by quantitative proteomics. Fluorescent stainings confirmed expression of human- and avian-type influenza virus receptors in primary human bronchial epithelial cells (phBECs) from COPD patients (n=4) and controls (n=3) differentiated at the air-liquid interface. Subjects were closely matched in age, sex, and smoking history and, for COPD-derived phBECs, included stage II (n=2), stage III (n=1) and stage IV (n=1). Proteomics of fully differentiated phBECs pre- and post-influenza A virus infection with A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) revealed no significant differences between GOLD stage II/ III COPD (n=3) and control phBECs in terms of flu receptor expression, cell type composition, virus replication, or protein profile pre- and post-infection. In contrast, COPD GOLD stage IV phBECs (n=1) showed a distinct pattern of flu receptor expression and a typical COPD phenotype as assessed by a literature-derived panel of 20 proteins and quantification of cell type composition. Independent of health state, proteomics showed a robust antiviral response to influenza virus infection, as well as upregulation of several novel influenza virus-regulated proteins.

INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive HF

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

TISSUE(S): Lung, Epithelial Cell

SUBMITTER: Juliane Merl-Pham  

LAB HEAD: Claudia Staab-Weijnitz

PROVIDER: PXD031461 | Pride | 2022-12-29

REPOSITORIES: Pride