Role of zinc in the respiratory epithelium and asthma

该项目将使用我们实验室开发的一组锌衍生的锌荧光团，以及哺乳动物囊泡ZnT转运蛋白家族的探针，对呼吸系统中锌的正常生理学和慢性炎症性呼吸系统疾病（哮喘，COPD，慢性吸烟）患者的潜在异常进行研究。呼吸道慢性炎症疾病影响了澳大利亚社会的很大一部分人。例如，哮喘影响12%的成年人，其中15%每周或更频繁地因哮喘醒来，而6%每年住院。有必要了解这些疾病的基本机制，以便开发新的策略来改变支气管收缩和炎症。该项目将提供有关锌在呼吸道上皮中的生理学以及锌缺乏和氧化剂对呼吸道损伤之间的相互作用的新知识。将评估易于接近的鼻上皮细胞作为呼吸道深处锌和锌转运蛋白水平的测量的有用性。该项目涵盖多个领域，并利用体外细胞和动物模型以及人体组织。

This project will use a panel of Zinquin-derived Zn fluorophores developed in our laboratory, as well as probes for the mammalian family of vesicular ZnT transporters, to carry out a study of the normal physiology of Zn in the respiratory system and potential abnormalities of this in patients with chronic inflammatory respiratory disease (asthma, COPD, chronic smoking). Chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract affect a significant proportion of the Australian community. For example, asthma affects 12% of adults and amongst these, 15% waken weekly or more often with their asthma while 6% are hospitalized annually. There is a need to understand the basic mechanisms underlying these diseases so that new strategies can be developed to modify bronchocondtriction and inflammation. The project will provide new knowledge concerning the physiology of Zn in the respiratory epithelium and interactions between Zn deficiency and oxidants on injury in the respiratory tract. The usefulness of easily accessible nasal epithelial cells as a measure of Zn and Zn transporter levels deeper in the respiratory tract will be assessed. The project encompasses a number of fields and utilizes in vitro cellular and animal models, as well as tissues from human subjects.