The utility and application of non-invasive fluorescent imaging in murine models of allergic asthma

Abstract

Allergic asthma is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and lung inflammation. To better understand disease pathophysiology, lung inflammation is monitored in animal models, and in this regard, non-invasive medical imaging is emerging for use in pre-clinical research. The primary aim of this project is to develop protocols using non-invasive fluorescent optical imaging to quantitate lung inflammation in response to allergic challenge in a murine model of asthma. Our studies show that in vivo optical imaging provides a meaningful, non-invasive measure of lung inflammation, including dye specific enzymatic activity such as for cathepsins, in murine models of allergic asthma. This approach is a new option for repeated measurements in individual animals for drug testing and development.