Publication of the Week - 05/02/2025

Title

Low levels of DNA repair enzyme NEIL2 May exacerbate inflammation and genomic damage in subjects with stable COPD and during severe exacerbations

Authors

Victor J. Cardenas,Justin B. Seashore,Nisha Tapryal, Moe Ameri, Rosalinda Rivera, Kabir Sharma, and Tapas Hazra

Journal

Respiratory Research

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory airway disease that is an independent risk factor for lung cancer. Reduction in NEIL2 function, a DNA glycosylase involved in DNA repair during transcription, has been associated with an increased incidence of malignancies in humans. NEIL2 knockout mouse models have demonstrated increased inflammation and oxidative DNA damage in the lungs after exposure to an inflammatory insult, but data are lacking regarding NEIL2 function in individuals with COPD. We investigated whether NEIL2 levels and oxidative DNA damage to the transcribed genome are reduced in individuals with stable COPD and during severe acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD).