Loss of p73 Expression Contributes to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Rationale: Multiciliated cell (MCC) loss/dysfunction is common in the small airways of patients with COPD but it is unclear if this contributes to COPD lung pathology. Objectives: To determine if loss of p73 causes a COPD-like phenotype in mice and explore whether smoking or COPD impact p73 expression. Methods: p73floxE7-E9 mice were crossed with Shh-Cre mice to generate mice lacking MCCs in the airway epithelium. The resulting p73Δairway mice were analyzed using electron microscopy, flow cytometry, morphometry, forced oscillation technique, and single-cell RNA sequencing. Further, the effects of cigarette smoke on p73 transcript and protein expression were examined using in vitro and in vivo models and in studies including airway epithelium from smokers and COPD patients. Measurements and Main Results: Loss of functional p73 in the respiratory epithelium resulted in a near-complete absence of MCCs in p73Δairway mice. In adulthood, these mice spontaneously developed neutrophilic inflammation and emphysema-like lung remodeling and had progressive loss of secretory cells. Exposure of normal airway epithelium cells to cigarette smoke rapidly and durably suppressed p73 expression in vitro and in vivo. Further, TP73 mRNA expression was reduced in the airways of current smokers (n=82) compared to former smokers (n=69) and p73-expressing MCCs were reduced in the small airways of COPD patients (n=11) compared to non-COPD controls (n=12). Conclusions: Loss of functional p73 in murine airway epithelium results in the absence of MCCs and promotes COPD-like lung pathology. In smokers and patients with COPD, loss of p73 may contribute to MCC loss or dysfunction.