Different Biological Pathways Are Up-regulated in the Elderly With Asthma: Sputum Transcriptomic Analysis.
10.4168/aair.2019.11.1.104
- Author:
Byung Keun KIM
1
;
Hyun Seung LEE
;
Kyoung Hee SOHN
;
Suh Young LEE
;
Sang Heon CHO
;
Heung Woo PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Medical Center Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Asthma;
Cluster analysis;
Elderly;
Gene expression
- MeSH:
Aged*;
Airway Obstruction;
Asthma*;
Cluster Analysis;
Dataset;
Eosinophils;
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition;
Gene Expression;
Humans;
Multigene Family;
Sputum*;
Transcriptome
- From:Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
2019;11(1):104-115
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Elderly asthma (EA) is increasing, but the pathogenesis is unclear. This study aimed to identify EA-related biological pathways by analyzing genome-wide gene expression profiles in sputum cells. METHODS: A total of 3,156 gene probes with significantly differential expressions between EA and healthy elderly controls were used for a hierarchical clustering of genes to identify gene clusters. Gene set enrichment analysis provided biological information, with replication from Gene Expression Omnibus expression profiles. RESULTS: Fifty-five EA patients and 10 elderly control subjects were enrolled. Two distinct gene clusters were found. Cluster 1 (n = 35) showed a lower eosinophil proportion in sputum and less severe airway obstruction compared to cluster 2 (n = 20). The replication data set also identified 2 gene clusters (clusters 1' and 2'). Among 5 gene sets significantly enriched in cluster 1 and 3 gene sets significantly enriched in cluster 2, we confirmed that 2 were significantly enriched in the replication data set (OXIDATIVE_PHOSPHORYLATION gene set in cluster 1 and EPITHELIAL MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION gene set in cluster 2'). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of 2 distinct gene clusters in EA and different biological pathways in each gene cluster suggest 2 different pathogenesis mechanisms underlying EA.
