Grant: Operating Grant

Increasing evidence suggests that events that lead to impaired lung function during development influence risk for respiratory diseases in adult life. We are studying a gene called Lgl1, cloned in our laboratory, that regulates aspects of lung development. Deficiency of the Lgl1 gene leads to some features characteristic of lung injury in the newborn period. Deficiency of Lgl1 also leads to changes in lung function in mature animals. We propose to study whether Lgl1 is important in determining risk for respiratory disease in adult life by analyzing mice which are Lgl1 deficient and lung tissue samples from patients with chronic obstructive lung disease or emphysema. Improved understanding of how genes important in development contribute to risk for adult lung disease may be of value in the development of new strategies for treatment and prevention.