About Us
The Department of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell leads a dynamic and innovative translational research program, advancing diverse fields such as Genetic Therapy and Personalized Medicine.
The Department of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell leads a dynamic and innovative translational research program, advancing diverse fields such as Genetic Therapy and Personalized Medicine.
Our translational research program aims to leverage our expertise in genetic therapies and personalized medicine to develop clinical solutions that target the molecular causes of human diseases.
The Department of Genetic Medicine advances treatments and diagnostics through diverse clinical trials, including drug testing and research to better understand diseases.
The Belfer Gene Therapy Core Facility (BGTCF) is a cutting-edge genetic medicine research facility.
The Department of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell leads a dynamic and innovative translational research program, advancing diverse fields such as Genetic Therapy and Personalized Medicine.
Our translational research program aims to leverage our expertise in genetic therapies and personalized medicine to develop clinical solutions that target the molecular causes of human diseases.
The Department of Genetic Medicine advances treatments and diagnostics through diverse clinical trials, including drug testing and research to better understand diseases.
The Belfer Gene Therapy Core Facility (BGTCF) is a cutting-edge genetic medicine research facility.
Publication Type | Academic Article |
Authors | Vanni H, Kazeros A, Wang R, Harvey B, Ferris B, De B, Carolan B, Hübner R, O'Connor T, Crystal R |
Journal | Chest |
Volume | 135 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | 1197-1208 |
Date Published | 02/02/2009 |
ISSN | 1931-3543 |
Keywords | Bronchi, Carrier Proteins, Glycoproteins, Lipolysis, Smoking, Weight Loss |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: Smokers weigh less and have less body fat than nonsmokers. Increased body fat and weight gain are observed following smoking cessation. To assess a possible molecular mechanism underlying the inverse association between smoking and body weight, we hypothesized that smoking may induce the expression of a fat-depleting gene in the airway epithelium, the cell population that takes the brunt of the stress of cigarette smoke. METHODS: To assess whether smoking up-regulates expression in the airway epithelium of genes associated with weight loss, microarray analysis was used to evaluate genes associated with fat depletion in large airway epithelial samples obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscopy from healthy smokers and healthy nonsmokers. As a candidate gene we further evaluated the expression of alpha(2)-zinc-glycoprotein 1 (AZGP1), a soluble protein that stimulates lipolysis, induces a reduction in body fat in mice, is associated with the cachexia related to cancer, and is known to be expressed in secretory cells of lung epithelium. AZGP1 protein expression was assessed by Western analysis and localization in the large airway epithelium by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Both microarray and TaqMan analysis demonstrated that AZGP1 messenger RNA levels were higher in the large airway epithelium of healthy smokers compared to healthy nonsmokers (p < 0.05, all comparisons). Western analysis of airway biopsy specimens from smokers compared with those from nonsmokers demonstrated up-regulation of AZGP1 at the protein level, and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated up-regulation of AZGP1 in secretory as well as neuroendocrine cells of smokers. CONCLUSIONS: In the context that AZGP1 is involved in lipolysis and fat loss, its overexpression in the airway epithelium of chronic smokers may represent one mechanism for the weight difference in smokers vs nonsmokers. |
DOI | 10.1378/chest.08-1024 |
PubMed ID | 19188554 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC2679098 |