Innovative lung research is driving discoveries that could help develop new ways to prevent or treat respiratory disease.
Southampton researchers are collaborating with AstraZeneca to help uncover the biological processes of the lungs using a technique called ‘multiomics’.
This winter, Dr Alastair Watson has been awarded the British Thoracic Society (BTS) 2021 Medical Student Award for his role in the respiratory research.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is caused by air pollutants and smoking. It leads to more than three million deaths per year worldwide and is a major cause of hospital admissions and GP visits. New treatments are desperately needed to improve outcomes for patients.
In the latest study, published in the BMJ Thorax journal, researchers studied differences in the lungs of patients with and without COPD. This has improved understanding of processes that are different in COPD and may lead to the disease.
Scientists took samples from the lungs of patients using a procedure called bronchoscopy. This involves inserting a small flexible tube through the nose or mouth into the lung.
These samples were then analysed using mass spectrometry-based multiomics.
Studying surfactant in the lungs
Human lungs have a liquid called ‘surfactant’ that contains fat molecules - called lipids - and proteins.
This liquid is essential for breathing as it stops the lungs from sticking together and collapsing. The proteins in the liquid also have extra roles to prevent the lungs from infections and inflammation.
The new research found that patients with COPD had lower levels of surfactant lipids and proteins in their lungs. These patients also had higher levels of enzymes that breakdown surfactant proteins, which could contribute to there being less in the lungs.
“This decrease in surfactant in patients with COPD could be a consequence of the disease or could contribute to its development,” Dr Watson explains. “The lack of surfactant proteins could also contribute to the increased risk that these patients have of developing serious lung infections, which leads to COPD getting worse.”
“Surfactant drugs are currently being tried in patients with COVID-19 and developed for premature babies with lung disease. Therefore, there may be a possibility to develop surfactant-based drugs for patients with COPD in the future.”
Identifying targets for new drugs
The project stems from a longstanding collaboration between Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre researcher Professor Tom Wilkinson and AstraZeneca, who funded this study.
Further work is exploring other differences identified in the lungs of patients with COPD and how these could contribute to disease and infection. This may enable scientists to identify targets that allow new drugs to be developed.
Dr Watson completed his PhD and postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Southampton. He has since been retraining to be a doctor, whilst continuing his research work in Southampton.
“I am delighted to win the BTS Medical Student Award and to have presented this work at the BTS winter meeting,” he says. “It is incredible recognition of this important continuing collaborative work. I thoroughly enjoyed working on this project and am excited by the impact that this continuing research may have on our understanding of COPD and the lives of patients with COPD in the future.”
Image: Dr Alastair Watson has been awarded the British Thoracic Society (BTS) 2021 Medical Student Award.
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