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Long-term exposure of mice to 890 ppm atmospheric CO2 alters growth trajectories and elicits hyperactive behaviours in young adulthoodAtmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are currently at 418 parts per million (ppm), and by 2100 may exceed 900 ppm. The biological effects of lifetime exposure to CO2 at these levels is unknown. Previously we have shown that mouse lung function is altered by long-term exposure to 890 ppm CO2. Here, we assess the broader systemic physiological responses to this exposure.
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Distribution, composition, and activity of airway-associated adipose tissue in the porcine lungPatients with comorbid asthma-obesity experience greater disease severity and are less responsive to therapy. We have previously reported adipose tissue within the airway wall that positively correlated with body mass index. Accumulation of biologically active adipose tissue may result in the local release of adipokines and disrupt large and small airway function depending on its anatomical distribution. This study therefore characterized airway-associated adipose tissue distribution, lipid composition, and adipokine activity in a porcine model.
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From Beneath the Skin to the Airway Wall: Understanding the Pathological Role of Adipose Tissue in Comorbid Asthma-ObesityThis article provides a contemporary report on the role of adipose tissue in respiratory dysfunction. Adipose tissue is distributed throughout the body, accumulating beneath the skin (subcutaneous), around organs (visceral), and importantly in the context of respiratory disease, has recently been shown to accumulate within the airway wall: "airway-associated adipose tissue." Excessive adipose tissue deposition compromises respiratory function and increases the severity of diseases such as asthma.
News & Events
Australian researchers join international project to curb unhealthy lifetime trajectoriesAustralian researchers join global effort to better understand how events during pregnancy and childhood influence the development of disease later in life.
Research
House dust mite induced lung inflammation does not alter circulating vitamin D levelsWe hypothesized that allergic inflammation decreases the level of circulating 25(OH)D and tested this using a mice model of house dust mite (HDM) induced...
News & Events
Annual Community Lecture: You Are What You BreatheJoin us for our Annual Community Lecture entitled "You Are What You Breathe" with Professor Stephen Holgate.
Research
Development of a screening tool to identify safer biodieselsAlexander Anthony Larcombe Kicic BScEnv (Hons) PhD BSc (Hons) PhD Honorary Research Fellow Rothwell Family Fellow; Head, Airway Epithelial Research
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Maternal high fat diet compromises survival and modulates lung development of offspring, and impairs lung function of damsWhile maternal high fat diet compromised litter survival, it also promoted somatic and lung growth (increased lung volume) in the offspring
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Foetal growth restriction in mice modifies postnatal airway responsiveness in an age and sex-dependent mannerOur data demonstrate changes in airway responsiveness as a result of intrauterine growth restriction that could influence susceptibility to asthma development
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Optical coherence tomography-based contact indentation for diaphragm mechanics in a mouse model of transforming growth factor alpha induced lung diseaseThis study tested the utility of optical coherence tomography-based indentation to assess mechanical properties of respiratory tissues in disease