LAMP: The LAM Microbiome Project
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis is characterized by tumor formation in different parts of the body such as the brain, kidneys, and skin. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis or LAM is a rare lung disease that affects primarily women. In this disease, cysts or abnormal air spaces replace the normal lung and progressively impair lung function. Currently, it is hard to predict the decline in lung function in women with LAM. The microbiome consists of all the genetic material within microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live on or in our body. Scientist estimate that the microbiome accounts for 90% of all the cells in a human being. The lung microbiome -- or the totality of microorganisms and their genetic material present in the lung -- has been shown in other lung diseases to predict the decline in lung function. Our hypotheses is that in LAM, lung destruction and changes in the local lung environment allow specific types of organisms to grow, while suppressing the growth of others. We believe that these changes could have important role(s) in lung function decline. Identifying what these changes are would allow their use as biomarkers of disease progression, or better yet as therapeutic targets. We propose a study to examine the composition of the LAM lung microbiome in early and late disease. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids from women with early-stage LAM and from healthy volunteers are available through collaboration with Dr. Joel Moss. These samples will be analyzed using the broadest possible sequencing platform -- shotgun sequencing -- to identify early changes in the LAM microbiome. Further, we will then analyze the microbiome of LAM lung tissue from explanted at the time of transplant and compare it to the lung microbiome of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) -- available through a collaboration with Drs. Moss and Rosas. This will be done using narrower analysis, since we anticipate that tissue microbiome will be less abundant. Together, this will allow us to understand the LAM microbiome in early and late disease and potentially identify important organisms that could play role(s) in disease pathogenesis. In summary, this study aims to characterize the LAM lung microbiome and to understand its potential utility as a biomarker of disease progression, or a potential therapeutic target.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 07, 2017
- Source ID
- W81XWH1710469
Entities
People
- Souheil El-chemaly
Organizations
- United States Army