Identifying targets for COPD treatment through gene expression analyses.
Despite the status of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a major global health problem, no currently available therapies can limit COPD progression. Therefore, an urgent need exists for the development of new and effective treatments for COPD. An improved understanding in the molecular pathogenesis of COPD can potentially identify molecular targets to facilitate the development of new therapeutic modalities. Among the best approaches for understanding the molecular basis of COPD include gene expression profiling techniques, such as serial analysis of gene expression or microarrays. Using these methods, recent studies have mapped comparative gene expression profiles of lung tissues from patients with different stages of COPD relative to healthy smokers or non-smokers. Such studies have revealed a number of differentially-regulated genes associated with COPD progression, which include genes involved in the regulation of inflammation, extracellular matrix, cytokines, chemokines, apoptosis, and stress responses. These studies have shed new light on the molecular mechanisms of COPD, and suggest novel targets for clinical treatments.
Chen
Zhi-Hua
ZH
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Kim
Hong Pyo
HP
Ryter
Stefan W
SW
Choi
Augustine M K
AM
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1 / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000235:genetics; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C497325:EGR1 protein, human; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D006655:Histone Deacetylases