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Respiratory Research
Published in: Respiratory Research 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Smoking and Nicotine Detoxification | Research

Smoking induces sex-specific changes in the small airway proteome

Authors: Spela Kokelj, Jörgen Östling, Benjamin Georgi, Karin Fromell, Kristina Nilsson Ekdahl, Henric K. Olsson, Anna-Carin Olin

Published in: Respiratory Research | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Introduction

Cigarette smoke triggers many cellular and signaling responses in the lung and the resulting inflammation plays a central role in smoke-related lung diseases, such as COPD. We explored the effects of smoking on the small airway proteome in samples obtained by collection of exhaled particles with the aim to identify specific proteins dysregulated by smoking.

Methods

Exhaled particles were obtained from 38 current smokers, 47 former smokers and 22 healthy controls with the PExA method. 120 ng of sample was collected from individual subjects and analyzed with the SOMAscan proteomics platform. General linear model-based statistics were performed.

Results

Two hundred and three proteins were detected in at least half of 107 total samples. Active smoking exerted a significant impact on the protein composition of respiratory tract lining fluid (RTLF), with 81 proteins altered in current smokers compared to never smokers (p < 0.05, q < 0.124). Among the proteins most clearly discriminating between current and never smokers were sRAGE, FSTL3, SPOCK2 and protein S, all of them being less abundant in current smokers. Analysis stratified for sex unveiled sex differences with more pronounced proteomic alterations due to active smoking in females than males. Proteins whose abundance was altered by active smoking in women were to a larger extent related to the complement system. The small airway protein profile of former smokers appeared to be more similar to that observed in never smokers.

Conclusions

The study shows that smoking has a strong impact on protein expression in the small airways, and that smoking affects men and women differently, suggesting PExA sampling combined with high sensitivity protein analysis offers a promising platform for early detection of COPD and identification of novel COPD drug targets.
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Metadata
Title
Smoking induces sex-specific changes in the small airway proteome
Authors
Spela Kokelj
Jörgen Östling
Benjamin Georgi
Karin Fromell
Kristina Nilsson Ekdahl
Henric K. Olsson
Anna-Carin Olin
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Respiratory Research / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1465-993X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-021-01825-6

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