Dataset Information

RNA-Seq quantification of the human small airway epithelium transcriptome.

ABSTRACT: The small airway epithelium (SAE), the cell population that covers the human airway surface from the 6th generation of airway branching to the alveoli, is the major site of lung disease caused by smoking. The focus of this study is to provide quantitative assessment of the SAE transcriptome in the resting state and in response to chronic cigarette smoking using massive parallel mRNA sequencing (RNA-Seq).The data demonstrate that 48% of SAE expressed genes are ubiquitous, shared with many tissues, with 52% enriched in this cell population. The most highly expressed gene, SCGB1A1, is characteristic of Clara cells, the cell type unique to the human SAE. Among other genes expressed by the SAE are those related to Clara cell differentiation, secretory mucosal defense, and mucociliary differentiation. The high sensitivity of RNA-Seq permitted quantification of gene expression related to infrequent cell populations such as neuroendocrine cells and epithelial stem/progenitor cells. Quantification of the absolute smoking-induced changes in SAE gene expression revealed that, compared to ubiquitous genes, more SAE-enriched genes responded to smoking with up-regulation, and those with the highest basal expression levels showed most dramatic changes. Smoking had no effect on SAE gene splicing, but was associated with a shift in molecular pattern from Clara cell-associated towards the mucus-secreting cell differentiation pathway with multiple features of cancer-associated molecular phenotype.These observations provide insights into the unique biology of human SAE by providing quantitative assessment of the global transcriptome under physiological conditions and in response to the stress of chronic cigarette smoking.

SUBMITTER: Hackett NR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3337229 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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RNA-Seq quantification of the human small airway epithelium transcriptome.

Hackett Neil R NR Butler Marcus W MW Shaykhiev Renat R Salit Jacqueline J Omberg Larsson L Rodriguez-Flores Juan L JL Mezey Jason G JG Strulovici-Barel Yael Y Wang Guoqing G Didon Lukas L Crystal Ronald G RG

BMC genomics 20120229

<h4>Background</h4>The small airway epithelium (SAE), the cell population that covers the human airway surface from the 6th generation of airway branching to the alveoli, is the major site of lung disease caused by smoking. The focus of this study is to provide quantitative assessment of the SAE transcriptome in the resting state and in response to chronic cigarette smoking using massive parallel mRNA sequencing (RNA-Seq).<h4>Results</h4>The data demonstrate that 48% of SAE expressed genes are u ...[more]

PMID: 22375630

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Project description:The small airway epithelium (SAE) the pseudostratified epithelium that covers the majority of the human airway surface from the 6th generation to the alveoli, is the major site of lung disease caused by smoking, and the cell population that exhibits the earliest manifestations of smoking-induced disease. The focus of this study is to use RNA-Seq (massive parallel sequencing technology) to sequence all polyA+ mRNAs expressed by the SAE of healthy nonsmokers to gain new insights into the biology of the SAE, and how these cells respond to cigarette smoke. Taking advantage of RNA-Seq providing quantitative mRNA levels, that data demonstrates that while the SAE shares its transcriptome with many cell types, it has unique characteristics that are enriched in this cell population, with the mostly highly expressed genes (SCGB1A1) characteristics of Clara cells, an airway epithelial cell unique to the human small airways. Among other genes expressed by the SAE are those characteristic of ciliated and mucin-producing cells, basal cells and neuroendocrine cells. The RNA-Seq data includes identification of the highly expressed SAE transcription factors, transmembrane receptors, signaling ligands and growth factors. RNA-Seq permitted quantification of expression of highly homologous gene families, the absolute smoking-induced changes in SAE gene expression, including genes expressed at low levels, and assessment of the effect of smoking on SAE gene splicing. Together, these observations can serve as the baseline for assessment of the dysregulation of SAE gene expression in human airway disease. The small airway epithelium (SAE) is the major site of lung disease caused by smoking, and the cell population that exhibits the earliest manifestations of smoking-induced disease. This study used RNA-Seq to sequence all polyA+ mRNAs expressed by the SAE of 5 healthy nonsmokers to gain new insights into the biology of the SAE, and evaluate how these cells respond to cigarette smoke using 6 healthy smoker samples (SRA029282.1). Taking advantage of RNA-Seq providing quantitative mRNA levels, that data demonstrates that while the SAE shares its transcriptome with many cell types, it has unique characteristics that are enriched in this cell population. Coverage of RNA-Seq expression was also compared to the HG-U133 Plus 2.0 microarray expression of 27 previously published healthy nonsmoker samples presented here.

Dataset Information

RNA-Seq quantification of the human small airway epithelium transcriptome.

Publications

RNA-Seq quantification of the human small airway epithelium transcriptome.

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