Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive condition of chronic
bronchitis, small airway obstruction, and emphysema that represents a leading cause of
death worldwide. While inflammation, fibrosis, mucus hypersecretion, and metaplastic
epithelial lesions are hallmarks of this disease, their origins and dependent relationships
remain unclear. Here we apply single-cell cloning technologies to lung tissue of patients
with and without COPD. Unlike control lungs, which were dominated by normal distal airway …

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive condition of chronic
bronchitis, small airway obstruction, and emphysema with enormous worldwide impact and
limited therapeutic options. While squamous and goblet cell metaplasia, as well as
inflammation and fibrosis, are hallmarks of this disease, their respective origins and
contributions to COPD remain unclear. We applied single-cell cloning technologies to lung
tissue of patients with and without COPD. Unlike control lungs, which were dominated by a …