Study finds complex relationships between bacteria and markers of lower
airway infection and inflammation in cystic fibrosis
Findings could help develop novel targeted treatments and more precise diagnostics for children with cystic fibrosis

Date:
March 23, 2022
Source:
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Summary:
The lower airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have unique
biochemical features that correlate with the complex communities of
lung bacteria typical of this disease, according to a multicenter
study. These findings offer insights into the underlying biological
mechanisms driving infection and inflammation in the CF lungs,
and may help develop novel targeted therapies and more precise
diagnostics to improve the care of children with CF.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The lower airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have unique
biochemical features that correlate with the complex communities of
lung bacteria typical of this disease, according to a multicenter study
led by researchers from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of
Chicago. These findings offer insights into the underlying biological mechanisms driving infection and inflammation in the CF lungs, and may
help develop novel targeted therapies and more precise diagnostics to
improve the care of children with CF. Results were published in the
journal Frontiers of Cellular and Infection Microbiology.


========================================================================== Chronic airway infection and inflammation resulting in progressive,
obstructive lung disease is the leading cause of illness and death
in people with CF. To better understand the biological mechanisms of
infection and inflammation, in a study conducted Lurie Children's
in collaboration with researchers at Children's Hospital Colorado
and the University of Minnesota, several metabolites were measured
in 90 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples acquired from
bronchoscopy. These lower airway samples were collected from children with
and without CF. Researchers also used genetic sequencing to characterize
the bacterial communities present in these samples, which were then
correlated to the metabolites in the lungs.

"Our study was the first to both examine these metabolites in lower airway samples and identify networks of relationships between metabolites and
lower airway bacterial communities," said lead author Jack O'Connor
from Lurie Children's. "We discovered metabolite biomarkers that
could be related to biochemical processes associated with increased inflammation and bacterial burden in the CF lung. These features that
are unique to CF lung biology could eventually aid the development
of new treatments and diagnostics." Two metabolomic characteristics
-- increased amino acids and decreased acylcarnitines -- were found
to be unique to CF and potentially could serve as biomarkers of the inflammation and infection. Additionally, a metabolite of interest, L-methionine-S-oxide, was positively corrected with the abundance of Staphylococcus, a traditional CF pathogen, and negatively correlated
with the abundance of anaerobic bacteria of interest in the development
of chronic CF lung disease. The study provides some interesting clues
about what may be happening biologically in the CF airway.

"Our findings are in the very early stages of research and are not yet
ready for clinical applications," said senior author Theresa Laguna, MD,
MSCS, Division Head of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at Lurie Children's
and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"Our results lay important groundwork for future studies that ultimately
will advance clinical care for children with CF." Research at Ann &
Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago is conducted through the
Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute. The Manne Research Institute
is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

Lurie Children's is ranked as one of the nation's top children's hospitals
by U.S. News & World Report.It is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Ann_&_Robert_H._Lurie_Children's_Hospital_of_Chicago.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. John B. O'Connor, Madison Mottlowitz, Monica E. Kruk, Alan
Mickelson,
Brandie D. Wagner, Jonathan Kirk Harris, Christine H. Wendt,
Theresa A.

Laguna. Network Analysis to Identify Multi-Omic Correlations in
the Lower Airways of Children With Cystic Fibrosis. Frontiers
in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2022; 12 DOI:
10.3389/fcimb.2022.805170 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220323125118.htm

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