| 1. |
- Akbarshahi, Hamid, et al.
(author)
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House dust mite impairs antiviral response in asthma exacerbation models through its effects on TLR3
- 2018
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In: Allergy. - : Wiley. - 1398-9995 .- 0105-4538. ; 73:5, s. 1053-1063
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Impaired antiviral interferon expression may be involved in asthma exacerbations commonly caused by rhinovirus infections. Allergy is a known risk factor for viral-induced asthma exacerbation, but little is known whether allergens may affect interferon responses.OBJECTIVE: Our hypothesis is that house dust mite (HDM) impairs viral stimulus-induced antiviral signalling.METHODS: Experimental asthma exacerbations were produced in vitro in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and in mice by using sequential challenges with HDM and a viral infection mimic, Poly(I:C). We examined rhinovirus pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) signalling pathways and potential mechanisms of impaired interferon response.RESULTS: HBECs and mice exposed to HDM prior to Poly(I:C) exhibited a reduced antiviral response compared to Poly(I:C) alone, including reduced IFN-β, IFN-lambda, TLR3, RIG-I, MDA5, IRF-3 and IRF-7. Heat-inactivation of HDM partially restored the TLR3-induced interferon response in vitro and in vivo. Our HBEC-data further showed that HDM directly affects TLR3 signalling by targeting the receptor glycosylation level.CONCLUSIONS: Direct effects of allergens such as HDM on PRRs can present as potential mechanism for defective antiviral airway responses. Accordingly, therapeutic measures targeting inhibitory effects of allergens on antiviral PRRs may find use as a strategy to boost antiviral response and ameliorate exacerbations in asthmatic patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Almendros, Isaac, et al.
(author)
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Early Career Members at the ERS Lung Science Conference: cell-matrix interactions in lung disease and regeneration: Early career forum
- 2018
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In: Breathe. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 1810-6838 .- 2073-4735. ; 14:2, s. 78-83
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The 16th ERS Lung Science Conference (LSC) took place on March 8–11, 2018, in Estoril, Portugal, with around 200 delegates from all over the world. This year’s topic was “Cell-matrix interactions in lung disease and regeneration” and involved excellent presentations by leading experts in the field covering everything from exploratory studies on how the matrix functions, matrix remodelling and biomarkers in disease, to more technical knowledge described in the field of lung bioengineering. As in previous years, the Saturday afternoon was reserved for a programme dedicated to early career delegates, which this year focussed on “Maximising your publication output”. In this article, we summarise the Early Career Member highlights of this year’s LSC.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Axelsson, Josefin, et al.
(author)
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Loss of size-selectivity of the glomerular filtration barrier in rats following laparotomy and muscle trauma.
- 2009
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In: American Journal of Physiology: Renal, Fluid and Electrolyte Physiology. - : American Physiological Society. - 0363-6127. ; 297, s. 577-582
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Post-traumatic microalbuminuria may be caused by either charge- or size-selective alterations in the glomerular filtration barrier, or both, and/or to a reduction in proximal tubular protein reabsorption (PTR). This study was performed to elucidate the pathophysiology of the increases in glomerular permeability occurring in rats exposed to laparotomy or to laparotomy and muscle trauma. In anaesthetized Wistar rats (250-280 g), the left ureter was catheterized for urine collection, while simultaneously blood access was achieved. Rats were exposed to trauma by laparotomy (L) (n=8), or by a combination of L and muscle trauma (MT), induced by topical blunt injury of the abdominal muscles bilaterally. After L muscles were crushed using a hemostatic forceps at either 2x2 sites ("small" MT; n=9), or at 2x5 sites ("large" MT; n=9). Sham groups (n=16), not exposed to laparotomy, were used as controls. The glomerular sieving coefficients () to polydisperse, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-Ficoll-70/400 (mol.radius 13-80A) were determined at 5 or 60 min after L and (L + MT), respectively, from plasma and urine samples, and analyzed by high performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). A tissue uptake technique was used to assess for (125)I-serum albumin. L, with or without MT, increased for Ficoll55-80A and albumin rapidly and markedly. -Ficoll70A thus increased approximately threefold, and for albumin significantly, for all trauma groups. According to the "two-pore model" of glomerular permeability these changes reflect an increase in the number of large pores in the glomerular filter without any primary changes in the charge-selective properties of the filter. Key words: microalbuminuria, glomerular sieving coefficients, albumin, Ficoll.
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| 5. |
- Bergman, Fanny, et al.
(author)
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Physicochemical metamorphosis of re-aerosolized urban PM2.5
- 2024
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In: Journal of Aerosol Science. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 0021-8502 .- 1879-1964. ; 181
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The toxicity of particulate matter (PM) is dependent on particle physical and chemical properties and is commonly studied using in vivo and in vitro approaches. PM to be used for in vivo and in vitro studies is often collected on filters and then extracted from the filter surface using a solvent. During extraction and further PM sample handling, particle properties change, but this is often neglected in toxicology studies, with possible implications for health effect assessment. To address the current lack of knowledge and investigate changes in particle properties further, ambient PM with diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) was collected on filters at an urban site and extracted using a standard methanol protocol. After extraction, the PM was dried, dispersed in water and subsequently nebulized. The resulting aerosol properties were then compared to those of the ambient PM2.5. The number size distribution for the nebulized aerosol resembled the ambient in terms of the main mode diameter, and >90 % of particle mass in the nebulized size distribution was still in the PM2.5 range. Black carbon made up a similar fraction of PM mass in nebulized as in ambient aerosol. The sulfate content in the nebulized aerosol seemed depleted and the chemical composition of the organic fraction was altered, but it remains unclear to what extent other non-refractory components were affected by the extraction process. Trace elements were not distributed equally across size fractions, neither in ambient nor nebulized PM. Change in chemical form was studied for zinc, copper and iron. The form did not appear to be different between the ambient and nebulized PM for iron and copper, but seemed altered for zinc. Although many of the studied properties were reasonably well preserved, it is clear that the PM2.5 collection and re-aerosolization process affects particles, and thus potentially also their health effects. Because of this, the effect of the particle collection and extraction process must be considered when evaluating cellular and physiological outcomes upon PM2.5 exposure. © 2024 The Authors
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| 6. |
- Bergman, Fanny, et al.
(author)
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Physicochemical metamorphosis of re-aerosolized urban PM2.5
- 2024
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In: Journal of Aerosol Science. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 0021-8502 .- 1879-1964. ; 181
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The toxicity of particulate matter (PM) is dependent on particle physical and chemical properties and is commonly studied using in vivo and in vitro approaches. PM to be used for in vivo and in vitro studies is often collected on filters and then extracted from the filter surface using a solvent. During extraction and further PM sample handling, particle properties change, but this is often neglected in toxicology studies, with possible implications for health effect assessment. To address the current lack of knowledge and investigate changes in particle properties further, ambient PM with diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) was collected on filters at an urban site and extracted using a standard methanol protocol. After extraction, the PM was dried, dispersed in water and subsequently nebulized. The resulting aerosol properties were then compared to those of the ambient PM2.5. The number size distribution for the nebulized aerosol resembled the ambient in terms of the main mode diameter, and >90 % of particle mass in the nebulized size distribution was still in the PM2.5 range. Black carbon made up a similar fraction of PM mass in nebulized as in ambient aerosol. The sulfate content in the nebulized aerosol seemed depleted and the chemical composition of the organic fraction was altered, but it remains unclear to what extent other non-refractory components were affected by the extraction process. Trace elements were not distributed equally across size fractions, neither in ambient nor nebulized PM. Change in chemical form was studied for zinc, copper and iron. The form did not appear to be different between the ambient and nebulized PM for iron and copper, but seemed altered for zinc. Although many of the studied properties were reasonably well preserved, it is clear that the PM2.5 collection and re-aerosolization process affects particles, and thus potentially also their health effects. Because of this, the effect of the particle collection and extraction process must be considered when evaluating cellular and physiological outcomes upon PM2.5 exposure.
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| 7. |
- Boswinkel, Milou, et al.
(author)
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Utilizing MRI, [18F]FDG-PET and [89Zr]Zr-DFO-28H1 FAP-PET tracer to assess inflammation and fibrogenesis in a reproducible lung injury rat model : a multimodal imaging study
- 2023
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In: Frontiers in Nuclear Medicine. - 2673-8880. ; 3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Accurate imaging biomarkers that indicate disease progression at an early stage are highly important to enable timely mitigation of symptoms in progressive lung disease. In this context, reproducible experimental models and readouts are key. Here, we aim to show reproducibility of a lung injury rat model, by inducing disease and assessing disease progression by multi-modal non-invasive imaging techniques at two different research sites. Furthermore, we evaluated the potential of fibroblast activating protein (FAP) as an imaging biomarker in the early stage of lung fibrosis. Methods: An initial lung injury rat model was set up at one research site (Lund University, Lund, Sweden) and repeated at a second site (Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands). To induce lung injury, Sprague-Dawley rats received intratracheal instillation of bleomycin as one single dose (1,000 iU in 200 µL) or saline as control. Thereafter, longitudinal images were acquired to track inflammation in the lungs, at 1 and 2 weeks after the bleomycin challenge by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and [18F]FDG-PET. After the final [18F]FDG-PET scan, rats received an intravenous tracer [89Zr]Zr-DFO-28H1 (anti-FAP antibody) and were imaged at day 15, to track fibrogenesis. Upon termination, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to assess cell and protein concentration. Subsequently, the biodistribution of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-28H1 was measured ex vivo and the spatial distribution in lung tissue was studied by autoradiography. Lung sections were stained, and fibrosis assessed using the modified Ashcroft score. Results: Bleomycin-challenged rats showed body weight loss and increased numbers of immune cells and protein concentrations after BAL compared with control animals. The initiation and progression of the disease were reproduced at both research sites. Lung lesions in bleomycin-exposed rats were visualized by MRI and confirmed by histology. [18F]FDG uptake was higher in the lungs of bleomycin-challenged rats compared with the controls, similar to that observed in the Lund study. [89Zr]Zr-DFO-28H1 tracer uptake in the lung was increased in bleomycin-challenged rats compared with control rats (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Here, we demonstrate a reproducible lung injury model and monitored disease progression using conventional imaging biomarkers MRI and [18F]FDG-PET. Furthermore, we showed the first proof-of-concept of FAP imaging. This reproducible and robust animal model and imaging experimental set-up allows for future research on new therapeutics or biomarkers in lung disease.
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| 8. |
- Brandelius, Angelica, et al.
(author)
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Selective inhibition by simvastatin of IRF3 phosphorylation and TSLP production in dsRNA-challenged bronchial epithelial cells from COPD donors.
- 2012
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In: British Journal of Pharmacology. - : Wiley. - 1476-5381 .- 0007-1188.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and purpose: Statin treatment may ameliorate viral infection-induced exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which exhibit Th2-type bronchial inflammation. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a hub cytokine switching on Th2-inflammation, is overproduced in viral and dsRNA-stimulated bronchial epithelial cells from COPD donors. Hence, TSLP may be causally involved in exacerbations. This study tests our hypothesis that simvastatin may inhibit dsRNA-induced TSLP. Experimental approach: Epithelial cells, obtained by bronchoscopy from COPD (n=7) and smoker control (n=8) donors, were grown and stimulated with viral infection and danger signal surrogate, dsRNA (10 µg·mL(-1) ). Cells were treated with simvastatin (0.2-5 µg·mL(-1) ), with or without mevalonate (13-26 µg·mL(-1) ), or dexamethasone (1 µg·mL(-1) ) prior to dsRNA. Cytokine expression and production, and transcription factor (IRF3 and NF-κB) activation were determined. Key results: dsRNA induced TSLP, TNFα, CXCL8, and IFNβ. TSLP was overproduced in dsRNA-exposed COPD cells compared to control. Simvastatin, concentration-dependently, but not dexamethasone, inhibited dsRNA-induced TSLP. Unexpectedly, simvastatin acted independent of mevalonate and did not affect dsRNA-induced NF-κB activation nor did it reduce production of TNFα and CXCL8. Instead, simvastatin inhibited dsRNA-induced IRF3 phosphorylation and generation of IFNβ. Conclusions and implications: Independent of mevalonate and NF-κB, previously acknowledged anti-inflammatory mechanisms of pleiotropic statins, simvastatin selectively inhibited dsRNA-induced IRF3 activation and production of TSLP and IFNβ in COPD epithelium. These data provide novel insight into epithelial generation of TSLP and suggest paths to be exploited in drug discovery aimed at inhibiting TSLP-induced pulmonary immunopathology.
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| 9. |
- Cerps, Samuel C., et al.
(author)
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Interferon-β deficiency at asthma exacerbation promotes MLKL mediated necroptosis
- 2018
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 8:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Defective production of antiviral interferon (IFN)-β is thought to contribute to rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbations. These exacerbations are associated with elevated lung levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), indicating occurrence of cell necrosis. We thus hypothesized that reduced lung IFN-β could contribute to necrotic cell death in a model of asthma exacerbations. Wild-type and IFN-β-/- mice were given saline or house dust mite (HDM) intranasally for 3 weeks to induce inflammation. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) was then given for additional 3 days to induce exacerbation. HDM induced an eosinophilic inflammation, which was not associated with increased expression of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP or elevated bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) LDH levels in wild-type. However, exacerbation evoked by HDM + dsRNA challenges increased BALF levels of LDH, apoptotic markers and the necroptotic markers receptor-interacting protein (RIP)-3 and phosphorylation of mixed linage kinase domain-like protein (pMLKL), compared to HDM + saline. Absence of IFN-β at exacerbation further increased BALF LDH and protein expression of pMLKL compared to wild-type. We demonstrate that cell death markers are increased at viral stimulus-induced exacerbation in mouse lungs, and that absence of IFN-β augments markers of necroptotic cell death at exacerbation. Our data thus suggest a novel role of deficient IFN-β production at viral-induced exacerbation.
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| 10. |
- Mahmutovic Persson, Irma, et al.
(author)
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Capacity of capsazepinoids to relax human small airways and inhibit TLR3-induced TSLP and IFNβ production in diseased bronchial epithelial cells.
- 2012
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In: International Immunopharmacology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1878-1705 .- 1567-5769. ; 13:3, s. 292-300
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), an immunomodulating potentially disease-inducing cytokine, is overproduced in TLR3-stimulated bronchial epithelial cells from asthmatic donors whereas production of antiviral IFNβ is deficient. It is of therapeutic interest that capsazepine inhibits epithelial TSLP and relaxes human small airways with similar potencies. However, it is not known if other capsazepine-like compounds share such dual actions. This study explores epithelial anti-TSLP and anti-IFNβ effects of capsazepine and novel capsazepine-like bronchorelaxants. We used primary bronchial epithelial cells from asthmatic and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) donors, and human small airways dissected from surgically removed lungs. Seven novel capsazepinoids were about 10 times, and one compound (RES187) >30 times, more potent than capsazepine as relaxants of LTD(4)-contracted small airways. TLR3-induced TSLP, TNFα, CXCL8, and IFNβ mRNA and protein levels were dose-dependently and non-selectively inhibited by capsazepine, equally in cells from asthmatic and COPD donors. The novel compounds, except RES187, reduced TSLP and IFNβ but none are more potent than capsazepine. Only capsazepine consistently inhibited TNFα and CXCL8 production and attenuated TLR3-induced epithelial NF-κB signalling. Hence, the present compounds did not separate between inhibition of TLR3-induced epithelial TSLP and IFNβ, but all compounds, except capsazepine, did separate between the bronchorelaxant and the epithelial immune effects. We conclude that similar mechanisms may be involved in capsazepine-like inhibition of TLR3-induced epithelial TSLP and IFNβ and that these are distinct from mechanisms involved in relaxation of small airways by these compounds.
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