Lung Microbiota and Metabolites Collectively Associate with Clinical Outcomes in Milder Stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is variable in its development. Lung microbiota and metabolites collectively may impact COPD pathophysiology, but relationships to clinical outcomes in milder disease are unclear. Identify components of the lung microbiome and metabolome collectively associated with clinical markers in milder stage COPD. We analyzed paired microbiome and metabolomic data previously characterized from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in 137 participants in the SPIROMICS (Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study), or (GOLD [Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Stage 0-2). Datasets used included ) bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing; ) untargeted metabolomics of the hydrophobic fraction, largely comprising lipids; and ) targeted metabolomics for a panel of hydrophilic compounds previously implicated in mucoinflammation. We applied an integrative approach to select features and model 14 individual clinical variables representative of known associations with COPD trajectory (lung function, symptoms, and exacerbations). The majority of clinical measures associated with the lung microbiome and metabolome collectively in overall models (classification accuracies, >50%,