Characterization of Airway Mucus in Bronchiectasis Patients and Healthy Controls

Characterization of Airway Mucus in Bronchiectasis Patients and Healthy Controls

Analysis of mucus, mucin and DNA concentration, MUC5B/5AC ratio, rheology, osmotic pressure, cohesion and nucleotides in sputum on 30 individual samples of good quality in healthy individuals and those with bronchiectasis. (60 total)

In this study the investigators will investigate the mucus properties in individuals with idiopathic bronchiectasis and healthy individuals without a history of lung disease. In order to understand how mucus is abnormal in disease conditions, the investigators need to understand the mucus biochemical and biophysical properties in healthy individuals. In this study the investigators will prospectively recruit patients with bronchiectasis and healthy individuals from the community to provide airway sputum samples. In these samples the investigators will measure an array of mucus properties. This will help our understanding of the mucus-obstructive lung diseases and facilitate the development of appropriate and effective disease prevention strategies.

A key question is whether mucus is hyper-concentrated and has abnormal biophysical properties in individuals with mucus-obstructive lung disease. To answer this question, the investigators need to understand the properties of the mucus in individuals with idiopathic bronchiectasis and no history of lung disease. This study will allow us to collect airway mucus (sputum) from individuals with bronchiectasis and healthy individuals with no history of lung disease.

Participants who meet all the following criteria are eligible for the study:

• Written informed consent
• Bronchiectasis patients: Available CT of the chest that shows evidence of dilated airways fulfilling radiographic criteria for bronchiectasis in more than one lobe and chronic cough.

Participants who meet any of the following criteria will not be eligible for the study:

• Healthy individuals: A history of lung disease, current asthma symptoms or medication use, premature birth (<37 week gestation), a history of lung disease of infancy, or neurological or cardiovascular illness, current smoker or a history of smoking tobacco products.
• Bronchiectasis patients: Premature birth (<37 week gestation), a history of lung disease of infancy, or neurological or cardiovascular illness.
• Younger than 18 years of age