title: Flexible bronchoscopy in molecular biology.
abstract: Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy has allowed researchers to use the bench to bedside approach in the study and therapy of lung diseases. Through bronchoscopy, the lung is a relatively convenient source of samples for the direct evaluation of human gene expression and function. Sampling of respiratory epithelium is performed by brushing with a cytology brush, whereas the epithelial lining fluid and the inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar space are obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage. Furthermore, bronchoscopy has been a cornerstone essential to gene therapy trials for lung disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Section, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. teissa@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Eissa
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Erzurum
mesh_terms: D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000628:therapy; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D008967:Molecular Biology; D013048:Specimen Handling