Pulmonary adaptation to repeated poly(I:C) exposure is impaired in asthmatic mice: an observational study.

Background: While asthma exacerbations remain a major challenge in patient management, few animal models exist to explore the underlying mechanisms. Here, we established an animal model of asthma that can be used to study pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic strategies on asthma exacerbation.

Methods: Female BALB/c mice were sensitized and exposed to PBS or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DerP) extract for 11 weeks.

Asthmatic Bronchial Smooth Muscle Increases CCL5-Dependent Monocyte Migration in Response to Rhinovirus-Infected Epithelium.

Asthma exacerbations, a major concern in therapeutic strategies, are most commonly triggered by viral respiratory infections, particularly with human rhinovirus (HRV). Infection of bronchial epithelial (BE) cells by HRV triggers inflammation, notably monocyte recruitment. The increase of bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) mass in asthma, a hallmark of bronchial remodeling, is associated with the annual rate of exacerbations.

Expansion of Airway Basal Cells and Generation of Polarized Epithelium.

Airway basal stem cells are the progenitor cells within the airway that exhibit the capacity to self-renew and give rise to multiple types of differentiated airway epithelial cells. This stem cell-derived epithelium displays organized architecture with functional attributes of the airway mucosa. A protocol has been developed to culture and expand human airway basal stem cells while preserving their stem cell properties and capacity for subsequent mucociliary differentiation.