GSE193749
RNA-Sequencing of COPD ferret lung reveals uniquely expressed gene common to human COPD.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease typified by not fully reversible and often progressive airflow obstruction, along with persistent respiratory symptoms. This gap is due to lack of animal models that more closely mimic human COPD are needed to bridge translational gaps. Commonly used mice model produces primarily emphysematous disease and do not develop features pathognomonic for chronic bronchitis. Suggesting the potential for additional molecular insights to be obtained from animal models that exhibit COPD with features of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, as in humans. We sought to identify whether our ferret model of COPD captures unique genetic signatures in comparison to mouse models that can help improve understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of COPD and promote the development of new and effective therapies. Overall design: Age and sex-matched ferrets (Mustela putorious furo) were procured from Marshall BioResources and exposed to room air or cigarette smoke generated by an automated cigarette smoke generator (TSE Systems, Chesterfield, MO). Smoke exposure consisted of 1 hour of smoke from 1R6F research cigarettes, twice daily for at least 6 months. At the end of study, We conducted RNA-Sequencing on tissue samples isolated from ferret lung parenchyma of the six COPD ferrets and six air control ferrets. All animal experiments were approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (IACUC 20232).