RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Differential remodelling in small and large murine airways revealed by novel whole lung airway analysis
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2022.01.15.476324
DO 10.1101/2022.01.15.476324
A1 Amanda L Tatler
A1 Christopher J Philp
A1 Michael R Hill
A1 Sam Cox
A1 Andrew Bullock
A1 Anthony Habgood
A1 Alison John
A1 Robert Middlewick
A1 Katherine E Stephenson
A1 Amanda T Goodwin
A1 Charlotte K Billington
A1 Reuben D O’Dea
A1 Bindi S Brook
A1 Simon R Johnson
YR 2022
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/01/18/2022.01.15.476324.abstract
AB Airway remodelling occurs in chronic asthma leading to increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass and extra-cellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Whilst extensively studied in murine airways; studies report only selected larger airways at one time point meaning the spatial distribution and resolution of remodelling are poorly understood. Here we use a new method allowing comprehensive assessment of the spatial and temporal changes in ASM, ECM and epithelium in large numbers of murine airways after allergen challenge. Using image processing to analyse 20-50 airways from a whole lung section revealed increases in ASM and ECM after allergen challenge were greater in small and large rather than intermediate airways. ASM predominantly accumulated adjacent to the basement membrane whereas ECM was distributed across the airway wall. Epithelial hyperplasia was most marked in small and intermediate airways. Post challenge, ASM changes resolved over seven days whereas ECM and epithelial changes persisted. The new method suggests large and small airways remodel differently and the long-term consequences of airway inflammation may depend more on ECM and epithelial changes than ASM. The method reduces the number of animals needed, reveals important spatial differences in remodelling and could set new analysis standards for murine asthma models.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.