Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2017 | Research
Nasal gene expression differentiates COPD from controls and overlaps bronchial gene expression
Authors:
Ilse M. Boudewijn, Alen Faiz, Katrina Steiling, Erica van der Wiel, Eef D. Telenga, Susan J. M. Hoonhorst, Nick H. T. ten Hacken, Corry-Anke Brandsma, Huib A. M. Kerstjens, Wim Timens, Irene H. Heijink, Marnix R. Jonker, Harold G. de Bruin, J. Sebastiaan Vroegop, Henk R. Pasma, Wim G. Boersma, Pascal Wielders, Frank van den Elshout, Khaled Mansour, Avrum Spira, Marc E. Lenburg, Victor Guryev, Dirkje S. Postma, Maarten van den Berge
Published in:
Respiratory Research
|
Issue 1/2017
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Abstract
Background
Nasal gene expression profiling is a promising method to characterize COPD non-invasively. We aimed to identify a nasal gene expression profile to distinguish COPD patients from healthy controls. We investigated whether this COPD-associated gene expression profile in nasal epithelium is comparable with the profile observed in bronchial epithelium.
Methods
Genome wide gene expression analysis was performed on nasal epithelial brushes of 31 severe COPD patients and 22 controls, all current smokers, using Affymetrix Human Gene 1.0 ST Arrays. We repeated the gene expression analysis on bronchial epithelial brushes in 2 independent cohorts of mild-to-moderate COPD patients and controls.
Results
In nasal epithelium, 135 genes were significantly differentially expressed between severe COPD patients and controls, 21 being up- and 114 downregulated in COPD (false discovery rate < 0.01). Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed significant concordant enrichment of COPD-associated nasal and bronchial gene expression in both independent cohorts (FDRGSEA < 0.001).
Conclusion
We identified a nasal gene expression profile that differentiates severe COPD patients from controls. Of interest, part of the nasal gene expression changes in COPD mimics differentially expressed genes in the bronchus. These findings indicate that nasal gene expression profiling is potentially useful as a non-invasive biomarker in COPD.