Dissolved gases from pressure changes in the lungs elicit an immune response in human peripheral blood
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Published:2024-04-16
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ISSN:2380-6761
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Container-title:Bioengineering & Translational Medicine
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Bioengineering & Transla Med
Author:
Harrell Abigail G.1ORCID,
Thom Stephen R.2ORCID,
Shields C. Wyatt13ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
2. Department of Emergency Medicine University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA
3. Biomedical Engineering Program University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
Abstract
AbstractConventional dogma suggests that decompression sickness (DCS) is caused by nitrogen bubble nucleation in the blood vessels and/or tissues; however, the abundance of bubbles does not correlate with DCS severity. Since immune cells respond to chemical and environmental cues, we hypothesized that the elevated partial pressures of dissolved gases drive aberrant immune cell phenotypes in the alveolar vasculature. To test this hypothesis, we measured immune responses within human lung‐on‐a‐chip devices established with primary alveolar cells and microvascular cells. Devices were pressurized to 1.0 or 3.5 atm and surrounded by normal alveolar air or oxygen‐reduced air. Phenotyping of neutrophils, monocytes, and dendritic cells as well as multiplexed ELISA revealed that immune responses occur within 1 h and that normal alveolar air (i.e., hyperbaric oxygen and nitrogen) confer greater immune activation. This work strongly suggests innate immune cell reactions initiated at elevated partial pressures contribute to the etiology of DCS.
Funder
National Science Foundation
National Institutes of Health
Office of Naval Research
Pew Charitable Trusts
David and Lucile Packard Foundation
University of Colorado Boulder
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