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Impact of Airway Mucus Plugs on Secondary Pulmonary Fibrosis in COPD Patients: A Single-Center Case-Control Study

NCT07236541 · Status: RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 20

Last updated 2025-11-19

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is frequently accompanied by airway mucus plugs, which are closely associated with airflow obstruction, acute exacerbations, and increased mortality. However, whether mucus plugs contribute to secondary pulmonary fibrosis remains unclear. This single-center, prospective, case-control study aims to investigate the relationship between airway mucus plugs and lung fibrosis in patients with COPD undergoing lung cancer surgery.

During surgery, distal non-tumorous lung tissues and airway mucus will be collected for histological and molecular analyses. Mucus plug burden will be quantified using AB-PAS staining, and fibrosis will be assessed using Masson staining. Expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, fibrotic markers, and the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 will also be measured. COPD patients (FEV₁/FVC \<0.70) will be compared with non-COPD surgical controls.

The study aims to clarify whether mucus plugs are associated with increased fibrosis and to explore the potential involvement of mechanical-signaling pathways, including Piezo1 activation. Findings may provide new clinical and pathological evidence for mucus-induced fibrotic remodeling in COPD and help identify novel therapeutic targets.

Conditions

Interventions

OTHER

No intervention; observational biospecimen collection only

No intervention; observational biospecimen collection only

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Ming Zhong

    lead OTHER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
89 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-10-30
Primary Completion
2026-06-30
Completion
2026-06-30

Countries

  • China

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07236541 on ClinicalTrials.gov