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The lung tissue microbiome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Marc A Sze1, Pedro A Dimitriu, Shizu Hayashi
1The James Hogg Research Centre, Providence Heart-Lung Institute at St. Paul’s Hospital, Departments of Medicine and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|March 20, 2012
Summary
The human lung harbors a distinct bacterial community that differs in individuals with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study analyzed lung tissue to identify these microbial differences.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Genomics
Background:
- Previous studies identified lung microbiomes associated with asthma and COPD using surface brushings and lavage fluid.
- These findings have been corroborated by other research groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the lung tissue microbiome.
- To extend previous findings on lung microbiomes to solid human lung tissue samples.
Main Methods:
- DNA was extracted from lung tissue of non-smokers, smokers without COPD, patients with Global Initiative for COPD (GOLD) 4, and cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.
- Bacterial community analysis involved 16S rRNA gene amplification, quantitative PCR, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), and pyrotag sequencing.
Main Results:
- Detectable bacterial populations were found in lung tissue across all groups, exceeding the negative control.
- T-RFLP and sequencing revealed distinct bacterial community compositions for non-smokers/smokers, GOLD 4 COPD, and CF groups.
- Pyrotag sequencing identified over 1,400 unique bacterial sequences, noting an increase in Firmicutes and Lactobacillus in GOLD 4 COPD patients.
Conclusions:
- A detectable bacterial community exists within human lung tissue.
- The lung tissue bacterial community composition is altered in patients with very severe COPD (GOLD 4).
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