MAP3K19 is overexpressed in COPD lung and bronchoalveolar lavage macrophages from COPD patients.

<p>(A) MAP3K19 RNA expression in four normal human lung samples and two COPD lung samples was examined by RT-qPCR and normalized to GAPDH levels, showing higher levels of expression in COPD diseased tissue compared to normal controls. The MAP3K19 expression in the Normal Lung #1 sample was arbitrarily assigned a value of one (denoted by the dotted line) and fold expression of MAP3K19 in all other tissues examined were relative to that sample. The average fold expression is shown ± SEM. (B) MAP3K19 expression was examined in either the trachea, large airways (primary or secondary branches) or small airways (tertiary branches or below) from three COPD patients (P1, P2 & P3) by RT-qPCR analysis. The levels of MAP3K19 was normalized to GAPDH levels, and the expression level of patient 1 trachea was arbitrarily assigned a value of one (denoted by the dotted line). MAP3K19 levels in all other samples were relative to that sample. This experiment was repeated twice, each time in duplicate, and the average fold expression is shown ± SEM. (C) MAP3K19 is over-expressed in the bronchoalveolar lavage macrophages from COPD patients. Heatmap showing MAP3K19 expression in BAL macrophages isolated from Gold Stage I & II COPD patients (n = 6), normal controls (n = 5) and healthy smokers (n = 6) as determined by RT-qPCR analysis. The values are normalized to GAPDH expression levels and the fold changes are depicted in the color scale. The RT-qPCR is representative of two experiments (biological replicates) performed in duplicate. Statistical analysis (ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer pair-wise test) of MAP3K19 expression levels between the different patient groups revealed that the difference in the mRNA levels between the COPD group, omitting the lowest expressing patient, and either the normal patients or healthy smokers was significant, P<0.01. Significant differences between groups was determined by ANOVA analysis followed by the Tukey-Kramer pair-wise tests, as detailed in the Materials and Methods. P<0.05 were considered significant. Patient demographics are shown in the <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0167169#pone.0167169.s008" target="_blank">S1</a>–<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0167169#pone.0167169.s010" target="_blank">S3</a> Tables.