RNA sequencing of nasal airway epithelial cells from preterm birth survivors at one year of age

To investigate potential drivers of respiratory disease in survivors of preterm birth by examining the transcriptomic profile of airway epithelial cells at approximately one year of age. Nasal airway epithelial brushings were collected, and primary cell cultures established from 8 term (GA>37w, 3.0 ± 1.1 years at collection) and 11 preterm participants (GA 25-31.2 weeks, 1.4 ± 0.1 years at collection). RNA was extracted from cultured cells and bulk RNA sequencing performed on both the ex vivo and in vitro samples. Overall design: Comparative gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data from airway epithelial cells collected from infants born either at term or very preterm (<32 weeks).