Understanding Airway Epithelial Cell Repair From Children Born Preterm
Our body relies on airway cells to maintain a protective barrier between the air we breathe in and out of our lungs, to keep us healthy and free from bugs. It is therefore important that airway cells repair quickly following an injury. Our study has assessed the ability of nasal cells from preterm infants to repair. We have found that airway cells from term infants completely repair, however cells from preterm infants do not. This defect may be further impaired after exposure to antenatal steroids. We do not yet know why cells from preterm infants repair slower than in those born at term. Our study is also looking to see if there are differences in the way genes are expressed in term and preterm cells, to see if this explains the slower repair.
Exploring the Effects of Electronic Cigarette Aerosol Exposure on Diseased and Healthy Airway Epithelial Cells
Electronic cigarettes (“e-cigarettes”) heat and atomize a liquid solution (“e-juice”) producing an aerosol which is inhaled. They are a relatively new technology and their use is widespread and increasing rapidly, especially in adolescents. There are many gaps in knowledge related to how e-cigarette use may impact health. The limited data that exist suggest that they are likely to have a negative impact on health in non-smokers (which typically includes one of the key demographics of e-cigarette users – adolescents). Such health effects may be more severe in situations of pre-existing respiratory disease. Importantly, data suggest that the type of e-cigarette (in terms of e-juice and “vaping” settings) can significantly influence health outcomes. In this study we are using our expertise in in vitro exposure models to investigate the effects of exposure to various aerosols generated by a 4th generation sub-ohm e-cigarette.
Assessment of SARS-Cov2 Receptor Genes Expression in Airway Epithelial Cells and Evaluation of Innate Immune Responses to SARS-Cov2 Infection
The current global pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 2019) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). Some of the people that were positive for this virus reported no clinical symptoms, whilst others have mild upper respiratory tract illness or even severe viral pneumonia with the resulting respiratory failure and death. The lungs appear to be the main target for SARS-CoV2 which cause them to stop working properly and cascading to other types of organ failure and death. With the data collected thus far, there is an emerging pattern that certain groups of individuals or ages are more susceptible to the effects SARS-CoV2 infection. However, little is known about what makes these ‘at risk’ groups more vulnerable. Therefore, this study aims to use airway epithelial cells from both paediatric and adult cohorts to determine the expression profiles of SARS-CoV2 receptors and to investigate the cellular responses to infection. By profiling the gene expression and detailed understanding of the cellular responses to infection we hope to identify potential therapies which are currently still unavailable.