The relation between age and airway epithelial barrier function

Abstract

Abstract Background The prevalence of age-associated diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is increasing as the average life expectancy increases around the world. We previously identified a gene signature for ageing in the human lung which included genes involved in apical and tight junction assembly, suggesting a role for airway epithelial barrier dysfunction with ageing. Aim To investigate the association between genes involved in epithelial barrier function and age both in silico and in vitro in the airway epithelium. Methods We curated a gene signature of 274 genes for epithelial barrier function and tested the association with age in two independent cohorts of bronchial brushings from healthy individuals with no respiratory disease, using linear regression analysis (FDR 45 years of age and significantly reduced in CDH1-deficient 16HBE14o-cells. Conclusion The significant association between genes involved in epithelial barrier function and age, supported by functional studies in vitro, suggest a role for epithelial barrier dysfunction in age-related airway disease.

Keywords

• Ageing
• Epithelial barrier function
• EPCAM
• CDH1
• Airway epithelial cells
• Chronic airway diseases