Contrary to conventional research animals, horses naturally develop asthma, a disease in which the extracellular matrix of the lung plays a significant role. Hence, the horse lung extracellular matrix appears to be an ideal candidate model for in vitro studying the mechanisms and potential treatments for asthma. However, so far, such model to study cell–extracellular matrix interactions in asthma has not been developed. The aim of this study was to establish a protocol for equine lung decellularization that maintains the architecture of the extracellular matrix and could be used in the future as an in vitro model for therapeutic treatment in asthma. For this the equine lungs were decellularized by sodium dodecyl sulfate detergent perfusion at constant gravitational pressure of 30 cmH2O. Lung scaffolds were assessed by immunohistochemistry (collagen I, III, IV, laminin, and fibronectin), scanning electron microscopy, and DNA quantification. Their mechanical property was assessed by measuring lung compliance using the super-syringe technique. The optimized protocol of lung equine decellularization was effective to remove cells (19.8 ng/mg) and to preserve collagen I, III, IV, laminin, and fibronectin. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy analysis demonstrated maintained microscopic lung structures. The decellularized lungs presented lower compliance compared to native lung. In conclusion we described a reproducible decellularization protocol that can produce an acellular equine lung feasible for the future development of novel treatment strategies in asthma.

Asthma is the most common inflammatory disease affecting the lungs, which can be caused by intrauterine or postnatal insults depending on the exposure to environmental factors. During early life, the exposure to different risk factors can influence the microbiome leading to undesired changes to the immune system. The modulations of the immunity, caused by dysbiosis during development, can increase the susceptibility to allergic diseases. On the other hand, immune training approaches during pregnancy can prevent allergic inflammatory diseases of the airways. In this review, we focus on evidence of risk factors in early life that can alter the development of lung immunity associated with dysbiosis, that leads to asthma and affect childhood and adult life. Furthermore, we discuss new ideas for potential prevention strategies that can be applied during pregnancy and postnatal period.

O ensino de anatomia é de fundamental importância a todos os profissionais da área da saúde. Especialmente no campo da macroscopia, observam-se estímulos para o desenvolvimento de novos conceitos de educação médica com a aplicação de diferentes abordagens pedagógicas. Nos cursos de graduação em Medicina Veterinária, o método tradicional de ensino vem passando por inovações semestre após semestre. O presente artigo aborda quatro tendências no ensino de anatomia veterinária, verificadas através de uma revisão crítica: a) Aprendizagem assistida por computador a fim de desenvolver modelos anatômicos de animais virtuais; b) Modelos anatômicos artesanais, manequins e simuladores; c) Gravação de videoaulas e compartilhamento pela internet; e d) Uso de técnicas de preservação de cadáveres livres de formol. Conclui-se que a melhor metodologia de ensino de anatomia veterinária tende a ser aquela em que exista a associação de todos os novos recursos com a dissecação animal, complementando-se uns aos outros.

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