Spatial transcriptomics reveals airway remodeling and molecular targets across COPD severity

<title>Extract</title> Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung condition characterized by persistent airflow limitation [1, 2]. Despite affecting over 380 million people and ranking as the third leading cause of death worldwide [3], the molecular mechanisms driving COPD progression remain elusive. Novel molecular techniques, such as spatial transcriptomics, hold large promise in unraveling the heterogeneity of COPD pathophysiology. Here, we used spatial transcriptomics of well-characterized lung tissue samples to identify molecular changes in COPD airways across different disease severities, enabling the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers for disease progression.