Lung Microbiome and Inflammation in Early COPD
Lung Microbiome and Inflammation in Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
About This Trial
This is a cross sectional case controlled study to assess lung microbiome and inflammation in smokers with and without Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Investigators will look at active bacterial metabolic pathways in the lower airways using metagenomic and metabolomic approaches an assess relationships among microbiome, metagenome, metabolome and host immune responses in COPD and controls. Investigators believe COPD cases will have higher prevalence of pneumotype supraglottic predominant taxa (SPT) than matched controls.
Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)
Original Eligibility Criteria
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Treatments Being Tested
Bronchoscopy
Flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and bronchial brushings will be done in a standardized manner. The bronchoscope tip is sequentially wedged in sub-segments where BAL will be performed on a total of two segments of the lung (120 ml in each segment for a total of 360 ml). Two brushes will be done under direct visualization in both segments. Selection of segments to sample will be based on where abnormalities are in imaging.