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Effects of house dust mite-induced asthma on the brain

Chehab, Nour (2023) MOBN03 20222
Degree Projects in Molecular Biology
Popular Abstract
Unlocking the hidden connection: How asthma gets into your head

Have you ever wondered if asthma, a common lung condition, could have effects beyond just your breathing? Recent scientific studies are revealing a fascinating connection between asthma and the brain, bringing to light an unexpected link that has puzzled researchers for years.

Asthma is an allergic disease characterized by lung inflammation and narrowing of the airways. It is induced by various environmental factors including tiny creatures called house dust mite (HDM). Although these microscopic creatures may seem harmless, their presence in our homes can trigger allergic reactions and asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. Previous... (More)
Unlocking the hidden connection: How asthma gets into your head

Have you ever wondered if asthma, a common lung condition, could have effects beyond just your breathing? Recent scientific studies are revealing a fascinating connection between asthma and the brain, bringing to light an unexpected link that has puzzled researchers for years.

Asthma is an allergic disease characterized by lung inflammation and narrowing of the airways. It is induced by various environmental factors including tiny creatures called house dust mite (HDM). Although these microscopic creatures may seem harmless, their presence in our homes can trigger allergic reactions and asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. Previous studies have shown that asthma can impact the brain, leading to associations with anxiety, depression, and memory loss. This study aims to understand how asthma influences the brain based on different aspects including inflammation, immune cells activation and changes in neuronal structure.

To understand these effects, an animal model using mice was established by exposing both female and male mice to HDM for three weeks to trigger asthma. Lung and brain tissue samples were collected for further investigation. Standard procedures were used to measure the release of inflammatory mediators in both lung and brain. Additionally, the brain’s immune cells, known as microglia activation, was estimated in different brain regions. At the same regions where microglia were active, neuroinflammation and changes in neuronal structure were examined using a staining method that darkens brain neurons, making them easier to distinguish and track.

Lung inflammation was addressed in female HDM mice only where an elevated number of activated immune cells were increased within the lung. But this have not to be the case in the brain results, where it showed that both male and female HDM mice developed a brain inflammation in specific brain region called hippocampus, which is a key region involved in memory and learning. In addition, the activation rate of microglia, the brain’s immune cells were increased within hippocampus. Microglia activation gives rise to neuroinflammation in the brain in both female and male mice. Moreover, the neuronal structure was determined by utilizing specialized staining technique. The neuronal structure was altered in the brain where the neurons were longer and had more branching in both female and male mice compared to control mice.

This study takes a significant step towards understanding the hidden consequences of allergic asthma, demonstrating that its effects extend beyond the lungs to impact brain. These findings pave the way for a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between respiratory health and brain function, opening doors to potential interventions that could safeguard both our breathing and brains.

Master’s degree project in molecular biology 60 credits 2023
Department of biology

Advisor: Anja Meissner
Department of Experimental Medicine (Vascular biology, BMC) (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Chehab, Nour
supervisor
organization
course
MOBN03 20222
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
language
English
id
9122348
date added to LUP
2023-06-09 10:16:21
date last changed
2023-06-09 10:16:21
@misc{9122348,
  author       = {{Chehab, Nour}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Effects of house dust mite-induced asthma on the brain}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}