# Role of Lung and Gut Microbiome in Lung Inflammation and Emphysema

> **NIH NIH R21** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $202,500

## Abstract

Project Summary:
Cigarette smoke exposure and biomass combustion can lead to the development of Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD) over time. However, not all individuals exposed to biomass or cigarette smoke
will develop disease. The susceptibility to lung inflammation and emphysema in COPD has been
extensively investigated from the aspect of the immune system response and proteinase activation.
However, the interaction between cigarette smoke and the microbiome could provide insight into patient
vulnerability. Studies in other organ systems have shown that the microbiome, which can dramatically differ
from one individual to another, can influence the inflammatory response and disease development. With
increasing studies revealing the existence of and the dynamic changes in the lung microbiota after injury,
research of the microbiome opens new opportunities to deepen the understanding of lung pathogenesis
during disease. We hypothesize that dynamic changes in microbiome profiles are associated with the
progression of COPD whereas the initial state of microbiome profiles could play an important role in COPD
susceptibility.
We will therefore test this hypothesis by examining the profile of the lung and gut microbiota in several
strains of mice of varying disease susceptibility exposed to cigarette smoke and identify correlations with
lung inflammation and emphysema development. We also seek to define the dynamic changes in
microbiome associated with COPD progression and compare the interaction between the gut and the lung
microbiome. Our preliminary studies have identified decreased probiotic microbes in the gut of smoke
exposed animals correlating with inflammation in the susceptible strains. We therefore plan to explore
microbiome modulatory interventions, including supplementing probiotics and anti-inflammatory short-chain
fatty acids, to identify whether disease susceptibility can be attenuated. These studies will allow the
development of a mechanistic hypothesis and potential therapeutic interventions that alter the microbiome
and protect the lung from developing injury.
!

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9968257
- **Project number:** 5R21ES029389-02
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeanine M D'Armiento
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $202,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9968257

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9968257, Role of Lung and Gut Microbiome in Lung Inflammation and Emphysema (5R21ES029389-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9968257. Licensed CC0.

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