Researchers at Boston University (BU) Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine have found that mucus plugs in the lungs alter the pattern of gene activity in a way that is similar to chronic bronchitis, suggesting that there may be similar underlying causes to both bronchitis and COPD.
The study, “Mucus Plugs-Associated Gene Expression Identifies Pathophysiology Shared With Chronic Bronchitis,” was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
“Mucus plugs are quite common in people with COPD, and they are associated with diminished quality of life and increased mortality,” said Marc Lendburg, PhD, corresponding author and professor of medicine at BU, in a news release. “By identifying how the presence of mucus plugs impacts the biology of the lung, we hope to be able to better treat them or prevent them from forming in the first place.”
The researchers studied participants in the Detection of Early Lung Cancer Among Military Personnel (DECAMP) 2 study who were mostly older U.S. military veterans at high risk for lung cancer due to a history of heavy smoking. Many of them also had COPD.
Computed tomography was performed to determine who had mucus plugs and, for those who did, how extensive they were. From that group, a pulmonologist collected cells from their airways and sequenced the RNA to determine the level of gene activity.
The researchers analyzed the gene activity from each individual with extensive mucus plugging to find genes that had increased (or decreased) activity. Once they had this mucus plugging “gene signature,” they compared it with gene signatures from other diseases.
The researchers said having a better understanding of how mucus plugging impacts the lungs and its relationship to chronic bronchitis may give new clues to how mucus dysfunction develops, which could be helpful for creating therapies to better treat mucus dysfunction.
“By uncovering the molecular pathways that drive mucus plugging and chronic bronchitis, we aim to identify biological targets for earlier diagnosis and intervention,” said study coauthor Ehab Billatos, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at BU. “Ultimately, we hope these insights will translate into therapies that restore airway health, reduce respiratory symptoms and improve the quality of life for people living with these chronic lung diseases.”
