Asthma is a disease that affects one in every twelve adults in the UK and so finding a treatment is something incredibly important to us at Cellomatics. In this article our CSO Professor Dave Lambert explains what Cellomatics can offer using in-depth data sets.
Cellomatics offers bespoke discovery science solutions for respiratory diseases, we have particular strengths in Asthma and would like to highlight these on World Asthma Day. Cellomatics offers robust reproducible assays covering pathophysiology and therapeutic targeting of the main airway tissues involved; the epithelium and smooth muscle. We can track epithelial structural and functional changes and for the smooth muscle can additionally measure contraction in a cell-based assay.
Cellomatics’ data sets
For the epithelium
Primary human lung fibroblasts were treated with the steroid Hydrocortisone (used in Asthma) in conjunction with TNF-α (to produce an inflammatory response) for 48 hours. Levels of IL1b, IL6, IL8, IFNγ, MMP1 and HMGB1 were determined using an ELISA-based assay. One-way ANOVA was performed to determine statistical significance (*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p <0.001).
For the smooth muscle
Human airway smooth muscle cells were embedded within collagen and pre-treated with 2,3 BDM (to relax muscle) followed by incubation for 4 hours with Carbachol (to contract muscle). Images were captured every 30 mins over a period of 3 and a half hours. Percentage change in gel contraction was then determined. For each treatment the percentage change in the gel contraction was calculated based on the values obtained at time 0. Each condition is representative of 3 biological replicates (n=3); mean+SEM. Data analysis was performed using the 2-WAY ANOVA analysis, *p<0.05; **p<0.01, ***p<0.0001; Carbachol vs. test ingredients groups.
If you would like to learn more about how Cellomatics can support those working on pathological mechanisms and treatments for this devastating disease this World Asthma Day, contact us here.
