Achievement

IGERT trainee Julie Zeskind in Zeskind JE, Lenburg ME, Spira A. "Translating the COPD transcriptome: insights into pathogenesis and tools for clinical management." Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008 Dec 1;5(8):834-41. Abstract: Cigarette smoke contributes to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) pathogenesis through unknown mechanisms. Whole-genome gene-expression studies of airway and lung tissue from COPD patients provide molecular insights into disease pathogenesis. This review integrates the few high-throughput gene expression studies that have been conducted on lung tissue and airway samples from smokers with COPD. Computationally comparing several lung tissue studies, we find that the studies suggest fundamental similarities and identify common biological processes underlying COPD. Additional lung tissue and airway gene-expression studies are warranted, and we present a roadmap for how such studies could lead to clinically relevant tools that would impact COPD management.