Imran Sulaiman, Benjamin G Wu, Matthew Chung, Bradley Isaacs, Jun-Chieh J Tsay, Meredith Holub, Clea R Barnett, Benjamin Kwok, Matthias C Kugler, Jake G Natalini, Shivani Singh, Yonghua Li, Rosemary Schluger, Joseph Carpenito, Destiny Collazo, Luisanny Perez, Yaa Kyeremateng, Miao Chang, Christina D Campbell, Philip M Hansbro, Beno W Oppenheimer, Kenneth I Berger, Roberta M Goldring, Sergei B Koralov, Michael D Weiden, Rui Xiao, Jeanine D'Armiento, Jose C Clemente, Elodie Ghedin, Leopoldo N Segal
Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Cigarette smoke is a causative factor; however, not all heavy smokers develop COPD. Microbial colonization and infections are contributing factors to disease progression in advanced stages. Objectives: We investigated whether lower airway dysbiosis occurs in mild-to-moderate COPD and analyzed possible mechanistic contributions to COPD pathogenesis. Methods: We recruited 57 patients with a >10 pack-year smoking history: 26 had physiological evidence of COPD, and 31 had normal lung function (smoker control subjects)...
November 15, 2023: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine