Identification of novel target genes in human lung tissue involved in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Figures & data

Figure 1 Transcriptome analyses and selected protein candidates in tissue microarrays.

Notes: (A) Heatmap of significantly regulated genes with 2.5-fold induction in individual tissue samples (one-way analysis of variance with Benjamini–Hochberg correction, cutoff p-value <0.05). (B) Histologic analyses of HOPE-fixed lung tissue of COPD patients. a) AQP3, b) ECM1, c) FHL1, d) MFGE8, e) PDE4DIP, and f) SLC6A8. Magnification ×200. The presence of the respective proteins of the candidate genes in the lung tissue should validate the transcriptome results and reveal the cell types expressing the proteins.
Abbreviations: AQP3, aquaporin 3; ECM1, extracellular matrix protein 1; FHL1, four and a half LIM domain 1; HOPE, HEPES-glutamic acid buffer mediated organic solvent protection effect; GOLD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; MFGE8, milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8; PDE4DIP, phosphodiesterase 4D-interacting protein.

Figure 2 RNA expression levels of the candidate genes after cigarette smoke extract (CSE) stimulation.

Notes: (A) Isolated human primary pneumocytes type II and (B) primary alveolar macrophages were investigated for their induction of IL8, ECM1, FHL1, and MFGE8 after CSE exposure. This primary cell model exhibits the dependence of the candidate gene expression on CSE because cigarette smoke is the leading cause of COPD. Data from five independent samples of different donors were analyzed in duplicates. Statistical analysis was performed by using the repeated-measure one-way analysis of variance with a Bonferroni multiple comparison correction; *cutoff p-value <0.05.
Abbreviations: ECM1, extracellular matrix protein 1; FHL1, four and a half LIM domain 1; IL8, interleukin 8; MFGE8, milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8; Unstim, unstimulated.