Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are common obstructive lung diseases that affect more than 20% of people worldwide. These lung conditions produce symptoms such as breathlessness, cough, and sputum (phlegm) production. For largely unknown reasons, there are more women than men with these lung conditions after puberty. In the present study, we will determine the role that female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) play in asthma and COPD by studying how these sex hormones affect mucus production in the cells that line the breathing tubes. These cells, which are called airway epithelial cells, are very important in orchestrating how the lungs deal with cigarette smoke, bacteria and allergens from the environment. We believe that female sex hormones may increase the mucus production caused by cigarette smoke, bacteria and allergens. Our studies will determine whether this is true or not.