Priority Research Area Chronic Lung Diseases

Lung Immunology

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Techniques

Mouse models of allergic bronchial asthma with its different phenotypes and disease stages are the methodological basis of our research. Currently, models reflecting acute, sub-chronic and chronic allergic asthma phenotypes are available.

Furthermore, we have established mouse models of virus-induced, acute exacerbation of allergic asthma as well as neutrophil asthma. Genetically modified mouse strains (knock-out, transgene, etc.) and different biological (antibodies, siRNA, DNAzymdes, etc.) are applied in order to perform mechanistic studies. Thus, we use a variety of methods to characterize the inflammatory reaction and immune response underlying asthma and its effects on lung structure and physiology. Since the analysis of lung function represents the benchmark criteria for clinical diagnostics as well as for the development and success of new therapeuticals, we put considerable emphasis on this method:

Analyse der Lungenfunktion

• head-out body-plethysmography (non-invasive lung function assessment)
• computer-controlled ventilation (invasive lung function analysis)

Analysis of Lung Structure

• computer-assisted quantitative histology
• fluorescence and immuno histochemistry

 
Analysis of Lung Cell and Molecular Biology

• immune cell isolation (T cells, DC, …) and cell culture and co-culture
• broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL)
• enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA)
• FACS analysis and FACS sorting
• western blotting
• RNA-isolation, cDNA synthesis, quantitative real-time RT-PCR