title: Large-scale gene discovery in human airway epithelia reveals novel transcripts.
abstract: The airway epithelium represents an important barrier between the host and the environment. It is a first site of contact with pathogens, particulates, and other stimuli, and has evolved the means to dynamically respond to these challenges. In an effort to define the transcript profile of airway epithelia, we created and sequenced cDNA libraries from cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF epithelia and from human lung tissue. Sequencing of these libraries produced approximately 53,000 3'-expressed sequence tags (3'-ESTs). From these, a nonredundant UniGene set of more than 19,000 sequences was generated. Despite the relatively small contribution of airway epithelia to the total mass of the lung, focused gene discovery in this tissue yielded novel results. The ESTs included several thousand transcripts (6,416) not previously identified from cDNA sequences as expressed in the lung. Among the abundant transcripts were several genes involved in host defense. Most importantly, the set also included 879 3'-ESTs that appear to be novel sequences not previously represented in the National Center for Biotechnology Information UniGene collection. This UniGene set should be useful for studies of pulmonary diseases involving the airway epithelium including cystic fibrosis, respiratory infections and asthma. It also provides a reagent for large-scale expression profiling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Todd E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Scheetz
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zabner
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coco
authors.forename: Mari de Fatima
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Eyestone
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonaldo
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kucaba
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Casavant
authors.forename: M Bento
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: McCray
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D005333:Fetus; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015723:Gene Library; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary