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| Open AccessWhole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19
Whole-genome sequencing, transcriptome-wide association and fine-mapping analyses in over 7,000 individuals with critical COVID-19 are used to identify 16 independent variants that are associated with severe illness in COVID-19.
- Athanasios Kousathanas
- , Erola Pairo-Castineira
- & J. Kenneth Baillie
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Article |
Inhibition of LTβR signalling activates WNT-induced regeneration in lung
Blockade of lymphotoxin β-receptor (LTβR) signalling restores WNT signalling and epithelial repair in a model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Thomas M. Conlon
- , Gerrit John-Schuster
- & Ali Önder Yildirim
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Article |
Estimating the effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions on COVID-19 in Europe
Modelling based on pooled data from 11 European countries indicates that non-pharmaceutical interventions—particularly lockdowns—have had a marked effect on SARS-CoV-2 transmission, driving the reproduction number of the infection below 1.
- Seth Flaxman
- , Swapnil Mishra
- & Samir Bhatt
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Letter |
Muc5b is required for airway defence
The airway mucin Muc5b (but not Muc5ac) is required for mucociliary clearance, defence against bacterial infection in the airways and middle ear, and maintenance of immune homeostasis in the lungs; Muc5b deficiency causes accumulation of apoptotic macrophages, impairment of phagocytosis and reduced production of interleukin-23, leading to infection and inflammation.
- Michelle G. Roy
- , Alessandra Livraghi-Butrico
- & Christopher M. Evans
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Letter |
Apoptotic cell clearance by bronchial epithelial cells critically influences airway inflammation
Airway epithelial cells are important in immune homeostasis in that they dampen immune activation by clearing dying cells and producing anti-inflammatory cytokines.
- Ignacio J. Juncadella
- , Alexandra Kadl
- & Kodi S. Ravichandran
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Outlook |
Perspective: How can genetics help?
Smoking and COPD have one of the strongest relationships in clinical epidemiology. But don't forget the genetics, says Edwin K. Silverman
- Edwin K. Silverman
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Outlook |
Diagnosis: To catch a killer
The first symptoms of COPD can be subtle, so the disease often goes undiagnosed. Researchers are searching for ways to detect the disease and to identify those most at risk.
- Cassandra Willyard
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Outlook |
Health impact: Breathless
COPD is one of the world's biggest killers, but awareness is low, diagnosis is often missed, and in many countries the extent of the problem is not even well-documented.
- Amber Dance
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Outlook |
Perspective: Clues, not conclusions
Scientists have some way to go before they can prove that COPD should be treated as an autoimmune disease, says Steven R. Duncan.
- Steven R. Duncan
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Outlook |
Therapeutics: Strength in numbers
Several new drugs for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are about to hit the market, with more in the pipeline.
- Duncan Graham-Rowe
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Outlook |
Nutrition: The vitamin D complex
Many COPD patients are deficient in vitamin D, a condition that can lead to bone problems as well as difficulty breathing. Can dietary supplements be of help?
- Thea Singer
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Outlook |
Public health: Where there's smoke
Air pollution and smoking have made COPD a major problem in China, now compounded by outdated diagnostics and treatments — and experts say it's bound to get worse.
- Virginia Hughes
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Outlook |
Devices: Artificial inspiration
The donor lungs of the future — built from collagen or silicone rubber or engineered from donor organs stripped of their original cells — might give a new lease of life to COPD patients.
- Elie Dolgin
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Outlook |
Biochemistry: A radical treatment
Researchers are counting on drugs that activate a master switch for antioxidant genes to protect lung tissue of COPD patients from an onslaught of free radicals.
- Ken Garber
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Research Highlights |
Cigarette smoke boosts biofilms
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Letter |
Reduced airway surface pH impairs bacterial killing in the porcine cystic fibrosis lung
In a porcine cystic fibrosis model, lack of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is shown to result in acidification of airway surface liquid (ASL), and this decrease in pH reduces the ability of ASL to kill bacteria; the findings directly link loss of the CFTR anion channel to impaired defence against bacterial infection.
- Alejandro A. Pezzulo
- , Xiao Xiao Tang
- & Joseph Zabner
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Research Highlights |
Recipes for making lung cells
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Research Highlights |
Cell biology: Lung lipid hurts breathing
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Books & Arts |
How lateral thinking saved lives
Martin Kemp is struck by the surreal quality of a home-made iron lung.
- Martin Kemp