Altered Expression of Intraflagellar Transport Genes is Associated with Short Cilia in Smoking and COPD

Study Smoking and COPD are associated with decreased mucociliary clearance and healthy smokers have shorter cilia in the large airway than nonsmokers. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is the process by which cilia are produced and maintained. We assessed expression of IFT-related genes in smokers and nonsmokers and evaluated cilia length in the large and small airway of nonsmokers, healthy smokers, and smokers with COPD.

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Hessel J, Heldrich J, Fuller J, Staudt MR, Radisch S, Hollmann C, Harvey BG, Kaner RJ, Salit J, Yee-Levin J, Sridhar S, Pillai S, Hilton H, Wolff G, Bitter H, Visvanathan S, Fine J, Stevenson CS, Crystal RG, Tilley AE