Modulation of Lung Epithelial Cell Function Using Conditional and Inducible Transgenic Approaches

Abstract

In the lungs, the epithelium is a first line of innate defense. In acute settings, such as infection or particulate exposure, the epithelium is protective. Protection is conferred by the epithelium's role as a physical barrier and by its ability to synthesize proteins that promote defense directly through physical interactions (e.g., mucins and anti-microbial peptides) and indirectly through the production of proteins that regulate inflammation (e.g., cytokines and chemokines). Despite its importance as a first line of host defense, the epithelium is also a significant target and an effector in lung pathologies. Accordingly, to determine the significance and biological mechanisms of genes involved in pulmonary defense, it is important to be able to interrogate the lung epithelium. In mice, this presents challenges related to the cellular location and timing of interventions. Effective genetic strategies for targeting the lung epithelium using tissue-/cell-specific and inducible control have been developed over the past decade. Methods for spatiotemporal targeting of gene expression are described here.

Expressions of β-Tryptase and Chymase in Lung Mast Cells due to Anaphylactic Shock through Histopathological Appearance at Different Post-Mortem Intervals

“…The study used a completely randomized design (CRD) approach to collect lung samples and determine the minimal sample size, as suggested by (Stefanski et al 2018). The formula employed was (n-1)(t-1)≥15, which would require at least two rabbits if the result was n≥2.…”