Project description:Inhaled welding fumes are deposited on all parts of the respiratory system, with the nasal cavity being the initial point of contact. We investigated the influence of fresh welding fumes on nasal epithelial model, i.e., RPMI 2650 cells, at the transcriptome level. Spark-generated welding fumes at two different concentrations (85 µg/m3 - low; 760 µg/m3 - high) were exposed to RPMI 2650 cell monolayers at air-liquid-interface continuously for 6h, followed by zero hours (or) four hours post-exposure incubation.
Project description:The respiratory epithelium is the body’s first line of defense to pathogens, pollutants, and other potentially injurious agents that can be inhaled. Sampling the upper respiratory tract is becoming a widely used technique in the clinic to examine the molecular changes in the diseased airway; however, it is unclear as to whether the responses in the upper respiratory tract (i.e. the nasal turbinates) reflect the changes that occur in the lower respiratory tract (i.e. trachea and lungs). Here, we assessed the responses to poly I:C, a synthetic double-stranded RNA molecule that is meant to mimic the acute effects of a viral infection, in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts of cynomolgus macaques. To do this, we compared the in vivo response after a nasal poly I:C challenge in a nasal scrape samples (performed using a nasal curette) to responses that occurred after ex vivo poly I:C stimulation in nasal scrapes, tracheal epithelial brushings, and lung tissue explants in non-human primates.
Project description:The respiratory epithelium is the body’s first line of defense to pathogens, pollutants, and other potentially injurious agents that can be inhaled. Sampling the upper respiratory tract is becoming a widely used technique in the clinic to examine the molecular changes in the diseased airway; however, it is unclear as to whether the responses in the upper respiratory tract (i.e. the nasal turbinates) reflect the changes that occur in the lower respiratory tract (i.e. trachea and lungs). Here, we assessed the responses to poly I:C, a synthetic double-stranded RNA molecule that is meant to mimic the acute effects of a viral infection, in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts of cynomolgus macaques. To do this, we compared the in vivo response after a nasal poly I:C challenge in a nasal scrape samples (performed using a nasal curette) to responses that occurred after ex vivo poly I:C stimulation in nasal scrapes, tracheal epithelial brushings, and lung tissue explants in non-human primates.
Project description:The respiratory epithelium is the body’s first line of defense to pathogens, pollutants, and other potentially injurious agents that can be inhaled. Sampling the upper respiratory tract is becoming a widely used technique in the clinic to examine the molecular changes in the diseased airway; however, it is unclear as to whether the responses in the upper respiratory tract (i.e. the nasal turbinates) reflect the changes that occur in the lower respiratory tract (i.e. trachea and lungs). Here, we assessed the responses to poly I:C, a synthetic double-stranded RNA molecule that is meant to mimic the acute effects of a viral infection, in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts of cynomolgus macaques. To do this, we compared the in vivo response after a nasal poly I:C challenge in a nasal scrape samples (performed using a nasal curette) to responses that occurred after ex vivo poly I:C stimulation in nasal scrapes, tracheal epithelial brushings, and lung tissue explants in non-human primates.
Project description:The respiratory epithelium is the body’s first line of defense to pathogens, pollutants, and other potentially injurious agents that can be inhaled. Sampling the upper respiratory tract is becoming a widely used technique in the clinic to examine the molecular changes in the diseased airway; however, it is unclear as to whether the responses in the upper respiratory tract (i.e. the nasal turbinates) reflect the changes that occur in the lower respiratory tract (i.e. trachea and lungs). Here, we assessed the responses to poly I:C, a synthetic double-stranded RNA molecule that is meant to mimic the acute effects of a viral infection, in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts of cynomolgus macaques. To do this, we compared the in vivo response after a nasal poly I:C challenge in a nasal scrape samples (performed using a nasal curette) to responses that occurred after ex vivo poly I:C stimulation in nasal scrapes, tracheal epithelial brushings, and lung tissue explants in non-human primates.
Project description:The respiratory epithelium is the body’s first line of defense to pathogens, pollutants, and other potentially injurious agents that can be inhaled. Sampling the upper respiratory tract is becoming a widely used technique in the clinic to examine the molecular changes in the diseased airway; however, it is unclear as to whether the responses in the upper respiratory tract (i.e. the nasal turbinates) reflect the changes that occur in the lower respiratory tract (i.e. trachea and lungs). Here, we assessed the responses to poly I:C, a synthetic double-stranded RNA molecule that is meant to mimic the acute effects of a viral infection, in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts of cynomolgus macaques. To do this, we compared the in vivo response after a nasal poly I:C challenge in a nasal scrape samples (performed using a nasal curette) to responses that occurred after ex vivo poly I:C stimulation in nasal scrapes, tracheal epithelial brushings, and lung tissue explants in non-human primates.
Project description:Molecular profiling studies in asthma cohorts have identified a Th2-driven asthma subtype, characterized by elevated lower airway expression of POSTN, CLCA1 and SERPINB2. To assess upper airway gene expression as a potential biomarker for lower airway Th2 inflammation, we assayed upper airway (nasal) and lower airway (bronchial) epithelial gene expression, serum total IgE, blood eosinophils and serum periostin in a cohort of 54 allergic asthmatics and 30 matched healthy controls. 23 of 51 asthmatics in our cohort were classified as âTh2 highâ based on lower airway Th2 gene signature expression. Consistent with this classification, âTh2 highâ subjects displayed elevated total IgE and blood eosinophil levels relative to âTh2 lowâ subjects. Upper airway Th2 signature expression was significantly correlated with lower airway Th2 signature expression (r=0.44), with similar strength of association as serum total IgE and blood eosinophils, known biomarkers of Th2 inflammation. In an unbiased genome-wide scan, we identified 8 upper airway genes more strongly correlated with lower airway Th2 gene signature expression (r=0.58), including Eotaxin-3 (CCL26), Galectin-10 (CLC) and Cathepsin-C (CTSC). Asthmatics classified as âTh2 highâ using this 8-gene signature show similar serum total IgE and blood eosinophil levels as âTh2 highâ asthmatics classified using lower airway Th2 gene signature expression. We have identified an 8-gene upper airway signature correlated with lower airway Th2 inflammation, which may be used as a diagnostic biomarker for Th2-driven asthma. Upper airway (nasal) and lower airway (bronchial) epithelial brushings obtained from a cohort of 54 allergic asthmatics and 30 matched healthy controls were profiled by gene expression by microarray. Subjects were assayed for gene expression, serum total IgE, blood eosinophils and serum periostin.
Project description:Rationale: Emerging evidence suggests that disease vulnerability is expressed throughout the airways; the so-called “unified airway hypothesis” but the evidence to support this is predominantly indirect. Objectives: To establish the transcriptomic profiles of the upper and lower airway and determine their level of similarity irrespective of airway symptoms (wheeze) and allergy. Methods: We performed RNA-sequencing on upper and lower airway epithelial cells from 63 children with or without wheeze and accompanying atopy, utilizing differential gene expression and gene co-expression analyses to determine transcriptional similarity. Results: We observed ~91% homology in the expressed between the two sites. When co-expressed genes were grouped into modules relating to biological functions, all were found to be conserved between the two regions, resulting in a consensus network containing 16 modules associated with ribosomal function, metabolism, gene expression, mitochondrial activity and anti-viral responses through interferon activity. Although symptom associated gene expression changes were more prominent in the lower airway, they were reflected in nasal epithelium and included; IL1RL1, PTGS1, CCL26 and POSTN. Through network analysis we identified a cluster of co-expressed genes associated with atopic-wheeze in the lower airway, which could equally distinguish atopic and non-atopic phenotypes in upper airway samples. Conclusions: We show that the upper and lower airway are significantly conserved in their transcriptional composition, and that variations associated with disease are present in both nasal and tracheal epithelium. Clinical Implication: Findings from this study supporting a unified airway imply that clinical insight regarding the lower airway in health and disease can be gained from studying the nasal epithelium.
Project description:Molecular profiling studies in asthma cohorts have identified a Th2-driven asthma subtype, characterized by elevated lower airway expression of POSTN, CLCA1 and SERPINB2. To assess upper airway gene expression as a potential biomarker for lower airway Th2 inflammation, we assayed upper airway (nasal) and lower airway (bronchial) epithelial gene expression, serum total IgE, blood eosinophils and serum periostin in a cohort of 54 allergic asthmatics and 30 matched healthy controls. 23 of 51 asthmatics in our cohort were classified as ‘Th2 high’ based on lower airway Th2 gene signature expression. Consistent with this classification, ‘Th2 high’ subjects displayed elevated total IgE and blood eosinophil levels relative to ‘Th2 low’ subjects. Upper airway Th2 signature expression was significantly correlated with lower airway Th2 signature expression (r=0.44), with similar strength of association as serum total IgE and blood eosinophils, known biomarkers of Th2 inflammation. In an unbiased genome-wide scan, we identified 8 upper airway genes more strongly correlated with lower airway Th2 gene signature expression (r=0.58), including Eotaxin-3 (CCL26), Galectin-10 (CLC) and Cathepsin-C (CTSC). Asthmatics classified as ‘Th2 high’ using this 8-gene signature show similar serum total IgE and blood eosinophil levels as ‘Th2 high’ asthmatics classified using lower airway Th2 gene signature expression. We have identified an 8-gene upper airway signature correlated with lower airway Th2 inflammation, which may be used as a diagnostic biomarker for Th2-driven asthma.
Project description:Rhinovirus infections are the most common cause of asthma exacerbations. The complex responses by the airway epithelium to rhinovirus can be captured by gene expression profiling. We hypothesized that the upper and lower airway epithelium exhibit differential responses to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), and that this is modulated by the presence of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Identification of dsRNA-induced gene expression profiles by microarray of primary nasal and bronchial epithelial cells from the same individuals and examining the impact of allergic rhinitis with and without concomitant allergic asthma on expression profiles. 17 subjects were included in a cross-sectional study (6 allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis; 5 allergic rhinitis; 6 healthy controls). RNA was extracted from isolated and cultured epithelial cells that were stimulated with Poly(I:C) for 24 hours from bronchial brushes and nasal biopsies, and analyzed by microarray (Affymetrix U133+ PM Genechip Array).