Gene signature profiles in bronchial tissues from severe asthma patients treated with bronchial thermoplasty

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is an endoscopic therapy employed for the treatment of refractory asthma. However, no predictive factors are available that determine the effectiveness of BT in treating asthma patients. The present study aimed to comprehensively analyze RNA samples from the airway bronchial tissues of 8 patients with severe asthma treated by BT, and to characterize each patient as a BT responder or non-responder. Total 24 RNA samples (three per patient prior to BT1 [baseline], prior to BT2 [after 1st time treatment], and prior to BT3 [after 2nd time treatment]) were obtained. There were 975 differentially expressed (DE) genes in the bronchial tissues of 8 patients between prior to BT1 (baseline) and prior to BT2 (after 1st time treatment), with significant differences (FDR-adjusted P<0.05). Subjects with an Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score change of >0.5 for a period of 12 months were considered BT responders. Non-responders exhibited a score change of <0.5 for 12 months. Transcriptome analysis at baseline identified 67 genes that were differentially expressed between responders and non-responders, including SLPI, MMP3, and MUC19 which were upregulated in responders. We prospectively studied 8 patients with severe asthma treated with Bronchial thermoplasty (BT). We underwent three sessions of BT (BT1, BT2, and BT3) at least every 3 weeks. Total RNA was extracted from homogenized bronchial tissues using TRIzol reagent. Total 24 RNA samples (three per patient prior to BT1 [baseline], prior to BT2 [after 1st time treatment], and prior to BT3 [after 2nd time treatment]) were obtained.