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Birefringence microscopy platform for assessing airway smooth muscle structure and function in vivo
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Birefringence microscopy platform for assessing airway smooth muscle structure and function in vivo

David C Adams, Josalyn L Cho, Lida P Hariri, Alyssa J Miller, Yan Wang, Martin Villiger, Jasmin A Holz, Margit V Szabari, Daniel L Hamilos, R Scott Harris, …
Science translational medicine, Vol.8(359), pp.359ra131-359ra131
10/05/2016
DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aag1424
PMCID: PMC5389120
PMID: 27708064

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Abstract

The inability to visualize airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells in vivo is a major obstacle in understanding their role in normal physiology and diseases. At present, there is no imaging modality available to assess ASM in vivo. Confocal endomicroscopy lacks the penetration depth and field of view, and conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT) does not have sufficient contrast to differentiate ASM from surrounding tissues. We have developed a birefringence microscopy platform that leverages the micro-organization of tissue to add further dimension to traditional OCT. We have used this technology to validate ASM measurements in ex vivo swine and canine studies, visualize and characterize volumetric representations of ASM in vivo, and quantify and predict ASM contractile force as a function of optical retardation. We provide in vivo images and volumetric assessments of ASM in living humans and document structural disease variations in subjects with mild asthma. The opportunity to link inflammatory responses to ASM responses and to link ASM responses to clinical responses and outcomes could lead to an increased understanding of diseases of the airway and, ultimately, to improved patient outcomes.
Microscopy - methods Asthma - physiopathology Tomography, Optical Coherence Humans Cartilage - anatomy & histology Muscle Relaxation Muscle, Smooth - anatomy & histology Respiratory System - anatomy & histology Case-Control Studies Animals Muscle Contraction Dogs Birefringence Muscle, Smooth - physiology Imaging, Three-Dimensional Sus scrofa

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