TY - JOUR T1 - Azithromycin treatment modifies airway and blood gene expression networks in neutrophilic COPD JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00031-2018 VL - 4 IS - 4 SP - 00031-2018 AU - Katherine J. Baines AU - Thomas K. Wright AU - Peter G. Gibson AU - Heather Powell AU - Philip M. Hansbro AU - Jodie L. Simpson Y1 - 2018/10/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/4/4/00031-2018.abstract N2 - Long-term, low-dose azithromycin reduces exacerbation frequency in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), yet the mechanism remains unclear. This study characterised genome-wide gene expression changes in patients with neutrophilic COPD following long-term, low-dose azithromycin treatment.Patients with neutrophilic COPD (>61% or >162×104 cells per mL sputum neutrophils) were randomised to receive either azithromycin or placebo for 12 weeks. Sputum and blood were obtained before and after 12 weeks of treatment. Gene expression was defined using microarrays. Networks were analysed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Gene database.In sputum, 403 genes were differentially expressed following azithromycin treatment (171 downregulated and 232 upregulated), and three following placebo treatment (one downregulated and two upregulated) compared to baseline (adjusted p<0.05 by paired t-test, fold-change >1.5). In blood, 138 genes were differentially expressed with azithromycin (121 downregulated and 17 upregulated), and zero with placebo compared to baseline (adjusted p<0.05 by paired t-test, fold-change >1.3). Network analysis revealed one key network in both sputum (14 genes) and blood (46 genes), involving interferon-stimulated genes, human leukocyte antigens and genes regulating T-cell responses.Long-term, low-dose azithromycin is associated with downregulation of genes regulating antigen presentation, interferon and T-cell responses, and numerous inflammatory pathways in the airways and blood of neutrophilic COPD patients.Azithromycin modifies gene expression in COPD http://ow.ly/Mqpv30lLXUM ER -