Towards Bronchoscopic Functional CFTR Assessment using a Short Circuit Current Measurement Probe.

The epithelial lining of luminal organs provides an immune barrier against external factors and regulates transport of nutrients, ions, and water into the body. Several conditions are associated with a breakdown or dysfunction of the epithelial lining. Short circuit current (I) measurement using a bulky, expensive, and hard to deploy system known as the Ussing chamber is the gold standard for evaluation of epithelial transport function but requires tissue excision.

Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals That Excessive Thyroid Hormone Signaling Impairs Phototransduction and Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Induces Cellular Stress in Mouse Cone Photoreceptors.

Thyroid hormone (TH) plays an essential role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism. Experimental and clinical studies have shown a potential association between TH signaling and retinal degeneration. The suppression of TH signaling protects cone photoreceptors in mouse models of retinal degeneration, whereas excessive TH signaling induces cone degeneration, manifested as reduced light response and a loss of cones.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Ferret Model Demonstrates Sustained Fibrosis, Restrictive Physiology, and Aberrant Repair.

Rationale: The role of MUC5B mucin expression in IPF pathogenesis is unknown. Bleomycin-exposed rodent models do not exhibit sustained fibrosis or airway remodeling. Unlike mice, ferrets have human-like distribution of MUC5B expressing cell types and natively express the risk-conferring variant that induces high MUC5B expression in humans.