Remodeling of extra-bronchial lung vasculature following allergic airway inflammation.
Författare
Summary, in English
BACKGROUND: We previously observed that allergen-exposed mice exhibit remodeling of large bronchial-associated blood vessels. The aim of the study was to examine whether vascular remodeling occurs also in vessels where a spill-over effect of bronchial remodeling molecules is less likely. METHODS: We used an established mouse model of allergic airway inflammation, where an allergic airway inflammation is triggered by inhalations of OVA. Remodeling of bronchial un-associated vessels was determined histologically by staining for alpha-smooth muscle actin, procollagen I, Ki67 and von Willebrand-factor. Myofibroblasts were defined as and visualized by double staining for alpha-smooth muscle actin and procollagen I. For quantification the blood vessels were divided, based on length of basement membrane, into groups; small (</=250 mum) and mid-sized (250-500 mum). RESULTS: We discovered marked remodeling in solitary small and mid-sized blood vessels. Smooth muscle mass increased significantly as did the number of proliferating smooth muscle and endothelial cells. The changes were similar to those previously seen in large bronchial-associated vessels. Additionally, normally poorly muscularized blood vessels changed phenotype to a more muscularized type and the number of myofibroblasts around the small and mid-sized vessels increased following allergen challenge. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that allergic airway inflammation in mice is accompanied by remodeling of small and mid-sized pulmonary blood vessels some distance away (at least 150 mum) from the allergen-exposed bronchi. The present findings suggest the possibility that allergic airway inflammation may cause such vascular remodeling as previously associated with lung inflammatory conditions involving a risk for development of pulmonary hypertension.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2008
Språk
Engelska
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Respiratory Research
Volym
9
Issue
18, FEb 8
Fulltext
- Available as PDF - 335 kB
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Länkar
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
BioMed Central (BMC)
Ämne
- Respiratory Medicine and Allergy
Status
Published
Forskningsgrupp
- Airway Inflammation and Immunology
- Lung Biology
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1465-9921