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Merckx P, Conickx G, Blomme E, Maes T, Bracke KR, Brusselle G, De Smedt SC, Raemdonck K. Evaluating β 2-agonists as siRNA delivery adjuvants for pulmonary surfactant-coated nanogel inhalation therapy. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 197:114223. [PMID: 38367760 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The lung is an attractive target organ for inhalation of RNA therapeutics, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA). However, clinical translation of siRNA drugs for application in the lung is hampered by many extra- and intracellular barriers. We previously developed hybrid nanoparticles consisting of an siRNA-loaded nanosized hydrogel (nanogel) core coated with Curosurf®, a clinically used pulmonary surfactant. The surfactant shell was shown to markedly improve particle stability and promote intracellular siRNA delivery, both in vitro and in vivo. However, the full potential of siRNA nanocarriers is typically not reached as they are rapidly trafficked towards lysosomes for degradation and only a fraction of the internalized siRNA cargo is able to escape into the cytosol. We recently reported on the repurposing of widely applied cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) as siRNA delivery enhancers. Due to their physicochemical properties, CADs passively accumulate in the (endo)lysosomal compartment causing a transient permeabilization of the lysosomal membrane, which facilitates cytosolic drug delivery. In this work, we assessed a selection of cationic amphiphilic β2-agonists (i.e., salbutamol, formoterol, salmeterol and indacaterol) for their ability to enhance siRNA delivery in a lung epithelial and macrophage cell line. These drugs are widely used in the clinic for their bronchodilating effect in obstructive lung disease. As opposed to the least hydrophobic drugs salbutamol and formoterol, the more hydrophobic long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) salmeterol promoted siRNA delivery in both cell types for both uncoated and surfactant-coated nanogels, whereas indacaterol showed this effect solely in lung epithelial cells. Our results demonstrate the potential of both salmeterol and indacaterol to be repurposed as adjuvants for nanocarrier-mediated siRNA delivery to the lung, which could provide opportunities for drug combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieterjan Merckx
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Griet Conickx
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Medical Research Building 2, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Evy Blomme
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Medical Research Building 2, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Tania Maes
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Medical Research Building 2, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Ken R Bracke
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Medical Research Building 2, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Guy Brusselle
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Medical Research Building 2, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Koen Raemdonck
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Kim RY, Sunkara KP, Bracke KR, Jarnicki AG, Donovan C, Hsu AC, Ieni A, Beckett EL, Galvão I, Wijnant S, Ricciardolo FL, Di Stefano A, Haw TJ, Liu G, Ferguson AL, Palendira U, Wark PA, Conickx G, Mestdagh P, Brusselle GG, Caramori G, Foster PS, Horvat JC, Hansbro PM. A microRNA-21-mediated SATB1/S100A9/NF-κB axis promotes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease pathogenesis. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eaav7223. [PMID: 34818056 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aav7223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Y Kim
- Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute and University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Krishna P Sunkara
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia.,Graduate School of Health, Discipline of Pharmacy, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia.,Intensive Care Unit, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Ken R Bracke
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Andrew G Jarnicki
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Chantal Donovan
- Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute and University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Alan C Hsu
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Antonio Ieni
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age "Gaetano Barresi", Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Messina, Messina 98100, Italy
| | - Emma L Beckett
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Izabela Galvão
- Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute and University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Sara Wijnant
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Fabio Lm Ricciardolo
- Rare Lung Disease Unit, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital Orbassano, Torino 10043, Italy
| | - Antonino Di Stefano
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, SpA Società Benefit, Divisione di Pneumologia e Laboratorio di Citoimmunopatologia dell'Apparato Cardio Respiratorio, Veruno, Novara 28100, Italy
| | - Tatt Jhong Haw
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Gang Liu
- Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute and University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Angela L Ferguson
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.,Centenary Institute and University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Umamainthan Palendira
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Peter A Wark
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Griet Conickx
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent 9000, Belgium.,Ablynx N.V., a Sanofi company, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Pieter Mestdagh
- Center for Medical Genetics and Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Guy G Brusselle
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Gaetano Caramori
- Pneumologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Odontoiatriche e delle Immagini Morfologiche e Funzionali (BIOMORF), Università di Messina, Messina 98100, Italy
| | - Paul S Foster
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Jay C Horvat
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Philip M Hansbro
- Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute and University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia
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Conickx G, Mestdagh P, Vandesompele J, Brusselle GG, Bracke KR. Reply: Direct Detection of Circulating MicroRNAs Unveiled the Absence of MicroRNA-218-5p in Smoker Subjects. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2017; 196:533. [DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201701-0224le] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Conickx G, Mestdagh P, Avila Cobos F, Verhamme FM, Maes T, Vanaudenaerde BM, Seys LJM, Lahousse L, Kim RY, Hsu AC, Wark PA, Hansbro PM, Joos GF, Vandesompele J, Bracke KR, Brusselle GG. MicroRNA Profiling Reveals a Role for MicroRNA-218-5p in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2017; 195:43-56. [PMID: 27409149 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201506-1182oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) can have a detrimental role in disease pathogenesis. OBJECTIVES To identify dysregulated miRNAs in lung tissue of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS We performed miRNA and mRNA profiling using high throughput stem-loop reverse-transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction and mRNA microarray, respectively, on lung tissue of 30 patients (screening cohort) encompassing 8 never-smokers, 10 smokers without airflow limitation, and 12 smokers with COPD. Differential expression of miRNA-218-5p (miR-218-5p) was validated by reverse-transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction in an independent cohort of 71 patients, an in vivo murine model of COPD, and primary human bronchial epithelial cells. Localization of miR-218-5p was assessed by in situ hybridization. In vitro and in vivo perturbation of miR-218-5p combined with RNA sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis was used to elucidate its functional role in COPD pathogenesis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Several miRNAs were differentially expressed among the different patient groups. Interestingly, miR-218-5p was significantly down-regulated in smokers without airflow limitation and in patients with COPD compared with never-smokers. Decreased pulmonary expression of miR-218-5p was validated in an independent validation cohort, in cigarette smoke-exposed mice, and in human bronchial epithelial cells. Importantly, expression of miR-218-5p strongly correlated with airway obstruction. Furthermore, cellular localization of miR-218-5p in human and murine lung revealed highest expression of miR-218-5p in the bronchial airway epithelium. Perturbation experiments with a miR-218-5p mimic or inhibitor demonstrated a protective role of miR-218-5p in cigarette smoke-induced inflammation and COPD. CONCLUSIONS We highlight a role for miR-218-5p in the pathogenesis of COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Griet Conickx
- 1 Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Mestdagh
- 2 Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Fien M Verhamme
- 1 Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tania Maes
- 1 Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart M Vanaudenaerde
- 3 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, Lung Transplantation Unit, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leen J M Seys
- 1 Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lies Lahousse
- 1 Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Richard Y Kim
- 4 Priority Research Centres for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases and Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; and
| | - Alan C Hsu
- 4 Priority Research Centres for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases and Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; and
| | - Peter A Wark
- 4 Priority Research Centres for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases and Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; and.,5 Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Philip M Hansbro
- 4 Priority Research Centres for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases and Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute and The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; and
| | - Guy F Joos
- 1 Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jo Vandesompele
- 2 Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ken R Bracke
- 1 Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy G Brusselle
- 1 Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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Allais L, Kumar S, Debusschere K, Verschuere S, Maes T, De Smet R, Conickx G, De Vos M, Laukens D, Joos GF, Brusselle GG, Elewaut D, Cuvelier CA, Bracke KR. The Effect of Cigarette Smoke Exposure on the Development of Inflammation in Lungs, Gut and Joints of TNFΔARE Mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141570. [PMID: 26523550 PMCID: PMC4629889 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The inflammatory cytokine TNF-α is a central mediator in many immune-mediated diseases, such as Crohn’s disease (CD), spondyloarthritis (SpA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Epidemiologic studies have shown that cigarette smoking (CS) is a prominent common risk factor in these TNF-dependent diseases. We exposed TNFΔARE mice; in which a systemic TNF-α overexpression leads to the development of inflammation; to 2 or 4 weeks of air or CS. We investigated the effect of deregulated TNF expression on CS-induced pulmonary inflammation and the effect of CS exposure on the initiation and progression of gut and joint inflammation. Upon 2 weeks of CS exposure, inflammation in lungs of TNFΔARE mice was significantly aggravated. However, upon 4 weeks of CS-exposure, this aggravation was no longer observed. TNFΔARE mice have no increases in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and a diminished neutrophil response in the lungs after 4 weeks of CS exposure. In the gut and joints of TNFΔARE mice, 2 or 4 weeks of CS exposure did not modulate the development of inflammation. In conclusion, CS exposure does not modulate gut and joint inflammation in TNFΔARE mice. The lung responses towards CS in TNFΔARE mice however depend on the duration of CS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liesbeth Allais
- Department of Medical and Forensic Pathology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- * E-mail: ;
| | - Smitha Kumar
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karlijn Debusschere
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology and Inflammation, Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Inflammation Research Center, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Tania Maes
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rebecca De Smet
- Department of Medical and Forensic Pathology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Griet Conickx
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Martine De Vos
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Debby Laukens
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy F. Joos
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy G. Brusselle
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dirk Elewaut
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology and Inflammation, Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Inflammation Research Center, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Claude A. Cuvelier
- Department of Medical and Forensic Pathology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ken R. Bracke
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- * E-mail: ;
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Seys LJM, Verhamme FM, Dupont LL, Desauter E, Duerr J, Seyhan Agircan A, Conickx G, Joos GF, Brusselle GG, Mall MA, Bracke KR. Airway Surface Dehydration Aggravates Cigarette Smoke-Induced Hallmarks of COPD in Mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129897. [PMID: 26066648 PMCID: PMC4466573 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Airway surface dehydration, caused by an imbalance between secretion and absorption of ions and fluid across the epithelium and/or increased epithelial mucin secretion, impairs mucociliary clearance. Recent evidence suggests that this mechanism may be implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the role of airway surface dehydration in the pathogenesis of cigarette smoke (CS)-induced COPD remains unknown. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate in vivo the effect of airway surface dehydration on several CS-induced hallmarks of COPD in mice with airway-specific overexpression of the β-subunit of the epithelial Na⁺ channel (βENaC). METHODS βENaC-Tg mice and wild-type (WT) littermates were exposed to air or CS for 4 or 8 weeks. Pathological hallmarks of COPD, including goblet cell metaplasia, mucin expression, pulmonary inflammation, lymphoid follicles, emphysema and airway wall remodelling were determined and lung function was measured. RESULTS Airway surface dehydration in βENaC-Tg mice aggravated CS-induced airway inflammation, mucin expression and destruction of alveolar walls and accelerated the formation of pulmonary lymphoid follicles. Moreover, lung function measurements demonstrated an increased compliance and total lung capacity and a lower resistance and hysteresis in βENaC-Tg mice, compared to WT mice. CS exposure further altered lung function measurements. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that airway surface dehydration is a risk factor that aggravates CS-induced hallmarks of COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leen J. M. Seys
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Fien M. Verhamme
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lisa L. Dupont
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elke Desauter
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Julia Duerr
- Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ayca Seyhan Agircan
- Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Griet Conickx
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy F. Joos
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy G. Brusselle
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marcus A. Mall
- Department of Translational Pulmonology, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ken R. Bracke
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- * E-mail:
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