Abstract: Cigarette smoking is a primary determinant of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is the fourth leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Unique proteins associated with COPD capable of differentiating subjects likely to experience rapid (RPD) or slow (SLW) decline in lung function have been identified using comprehensive high-throughput proteomic approaches. Thirty peptides, which mapped to 21 unique proteins, were linearly associated with annualized rates of lung function decline among smokers with COPD characterized as having rapid or slow decline and smokers without COPD. Using three different statistical approaches to assess the data, the RPD and SLW groups are differentiated by 55 peptides, which mapped to 33 unique proteins. A number of the identified peptides are proteolytic fragments of proteins that are involved in the complement and/or coagulation systems, have anti-protease activity, or metabolic functions.

Abstract: The technology provided herein relates to the SNPs identified as described herein, both singly and in combination, as well as to the use of these SNPs, and others in linkage disequilibrium with these SNPs, for diagnosis, prediction of clinical course, and/or treatment response for pulmonary disease such as COPD, development of new treatments for pulmonary disease such as COPD based upon comparison of the variant and normal versions of the gene or gene product, and development of cell-culture based and animal models for research and treatment of pulmonary disease such as COPD. The technology provided herein further relates to novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits for use in the diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of such disorders.

Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by chronic airflow limitation, is a serious and growing public health concern. The major environmental risk factor for COPD is cigarette smoking, but the biological mechanisms underlying COPD are not well understood. Herein, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy is used in methods to identify metabolites and biomarkers associated with lung function in COPD.

Abstract: Cigarette smoking is a primary determinant of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is the fourth leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Unique proteins associated with COPD capable of differentiating subjects likely to experience rapid (RPD) or slow (SLW) decline in lung function have been identified using comprehensive high-throughput proteomic approaches. Thirty peptides, which mapped to 21 unique proteins, were linearly associated with annualized rates of lung function decline among smokers with COPD characterized as having rapid or slow decline and smokers without COPD. Using three different statistical approaches to assess the data, the RPD and SLW groups are differentiated by 55 peptides, which mapped to 33 unique proteins. A number of the identified peptides are proteolytic fragments of proteins that are involved in the complement and/or coagulation systems, have anti-protease activity, or metabolic functions.

Abstract: Biomarkers of lung disease are provided. The biomarkers comprise target genomic DNA sequences having one or more CpG dinucleotides that are differentially methylated in genomic DNA of subjects having lung disease as compared to normal subjects or subjects not having lung disease. In one exemplary embodiment, methylation status profiles of 71 CpG sites mapping to 67 unique genes are significantly associated with at least one of three lung function decline measures associated with lung disease. Other biomarkers significantly associated with cigarette smoking-related lung function decline, with age-related lung function decline, and with the intensifying effects of cigarette smoking on lung function decline with age are also provided.

Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by chronic airflow limitation, is a serious and growing public health concern. The major environmental risk factor for COPD is cigarette smoking, but the biological mechanisms underlying COPD are not well understood. Herein, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy is used in methods to identify metabolites and biomarkers associated with lung function in COPD.

Abstract: The technology provided herein relates to the SNPs identified as described herein, both singly and in combination, as well as to the use of these SNPs, and others in linkage disequilibrium with these SNPs, for diagnosis, prediction of clinical course, and/or treatment response for pulmonary disease such as COPD, development of new treatments for pulmonary disease such as COPD based upon comparison of the variant and normal versions of the gene or gene product, and development of cell-culture based and animal models for research and treatment of pulmonary disease such as COPD. The technology provided herein further relates to novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits for use in the diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of such disorders.