Researchers now see "both forest and trees" with 3D imaging method – ScienceDaily

The study published today in the journal Translational medicine of sciences.

The findings provide a new insight into a little understood factor in the development of asthma, a disease that affects approximately 235 million people worldwide. The study is the first to demonstrate that inflammatory cells can alter the nerve structure in the lungs to cause disease.

Nerves in the airways detect inhaled particles, such as pollen and smoke, in the environment and help regulate airway constriction. In asthma, these nerves become more sensitive, causing symptoms of wheezing and coughing in patients. Although previous research has shown that two-thirds of asthmatic patients had an overabundance of a type of immune cell, called eosinophils, the effects of eosinophils on the airway nerves were not completely understood.

To study the nerves of the airways in asthma, the researchers used state-of-the-art OHSU confocal microscopes to generate three-dimensional images capturing a complete picture of the airway nerves and their interactions with them. eosinophils.

"Imagine the branches of trees in a forest," said lead author Matthew Drake, MD, an assistant professor of medicine (pulmonary medicine and intensive care) at the OHSU School of Medicine in Portland, Oregon . "In previous studies, researchers could only view small sections of the branches, which meant that you could never see the whole tree or how many trees were intertwined." With our new method, you can see the forest and the trees. "

Using this new 3D method, Drake's team studied the length of nerves and the frequency of their branching into the airways of healthy patients and asthmatic patients. They found that in asthma, the nerves of the airways are more dense.

"Essentially, trees grow more branches," Drake said. "Because of these changes, the nerves are more easily irritated, which leads to exaggerated reactions that restrict the airways."

Research also showed that having more eosinophils increased the likelihood of having denser nerves and increased nerves associated with more severe asthma symptoms.

"Changes in nerve structure are clearly linked to poor lung function in asthma," Drake said.

However, future studies are needed to determine whether these changes are preventable or if this process is reversible once it is established, either by dealing with currently available asthma medications or by developing new ones. drugs, said Drake.

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