Strategic Assessment of Lung Function in LPS Models

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infection in mice is used to study the mechanisms of infection, pathogenesis, and to evaluate the efficacy of vaccines. This infection is also used to study the host-pathogen interactions and to investigate the responses of the immune system to infection. Lung function testing is often considered of prime importance in preclinical infectious disease research. Being integrative, functional, and translational, the conclusions of such assessments typically impact the decision-making process. 

Following an intranasal LPS administration, small changes in respiratory mechanics parameters are often seen when probing the lung with low amplitude oscillometry measurements [1]. This may be a reason explaining why few studies include lung function measurements following LPS. 

The strategy used to characterize respiratory impairments can be adapted to the model being evaluated. This is best exemplified in the latest paper by Khadangi et al. 2022 [2], where the authors conducted a comprehensive time and dose-dependent assessment of the changes in respiratory mechanics following LPS using the flexiVent. By going beyond the typical measurements generally reported and probing the lung with large amplitude maneuvers (e.g., Lung Volumes, PVs-P, or Deep Inflation), the authors highlighted sensitive outcomes that will most likely influence future work.

For 25 years now, the flexiVent system has offered a range of techniques to probe the lungs of small laboratory animals. Contact us to discuss your needs or to further understand the measurements.