1. Differential Transcriptomic Signatures of Small Airway Cell Cultures Derived from IPF and COVID-19-Induced Exacerbation of Interstitial Lung Disease.
- Author
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Uhl K, Paithankar S, Leshchiner D, Jager TE, Abdelgied M, Dixit B, Marashdeh R, Luo-Li D, Tripp K, Peraino AM, Tamae Kakazu M, Lawson C, Chesla DW, Luo-Li N, Murphy ET, Prokop J, Chen B, Girgis RE, and Li X
- Subjects
- Humans, Transcriptome genetics, Gene Expression Profiling, Cell Culture Techniques, Fibrosis, COVID-19 genetics, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis pathology, Lung Diseases, Interstitial
- Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a pathological condition wherein lung injury precipitates the deposition of scar tissue, ultimately leading to a decline in pulmonary function. Existing research indicates a notable exacerbation in the clinical prognosis of IPF patients following infection with COVID-19. This investigation employed bulk RNA-sequencing methodologies to describe the transcriptomic profiles of small airway cell cultures derived from IPF and post-COVID fibrosis patients. Differential gene expression analysis unveiled heightened activation of pathways associated with microtubule assembly and interferon signaling in IPF cell cultures. Conversely, post-COVID fibrosis cell cultures exhibited distinctive characteristics, including the upregulation of pathways linked to extracellular matrix remodeling, immune system response, and TGF-β1 signaling. Notably, BMP signaling levels were elevated in cell cultures derived from IPF patients compared to non-IPF control and post-COVID fibrosis samples. These findings underscore the molecular distinctions between IPF and post-COVID fibrosis, particularly in the context of signaling pathways associated with each condition. A better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms holds the promise of identifying potential therapeutic targets for future interventions in these diseases.
- Published
- 2023
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