Respiratory diseases are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Various factors can affect lung disease, from lifestyle factors such as inhaled pollutants to disease pathology in cancer, making it an important area of research. Treatments for respiratory diseases represent an enormous, unmet medical need with limited therapies currently approved for use. Animal models provide researchers with the opportunities to experimentally manipulate variables such as animal strains, environment, and the genomes to investigate the molecular interactions involved in the pathogenesis of many lung diseases. They also provide a unique opportunity to test potential therapeutic interventions.
Creative Bioarray has established a wide range of screening models for respiratory diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis. By combining long-standing expertise with new innovative tools and solutions, Creative Bioarray promotes biotherapeutic and small molecule drug discovery for the treatment of respiratory diseases. It is possible to perform classical, intranasal or intratracheal administration or to use a nebulizer according to your needs.
Asthma Models
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that is often associated with airway hyper-responsiveness and variable airflow obstruction. Animal models are necessary to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms and to assess the safety and efficacy of new treatments for asthma. The murine models of allergic respiratory diseases induced by ovalbumin (OVA) and aeroallergens have been widely used to elucidate immunological and non-immunological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. In addition, they help identify and investigate new targets for controlling allergic inflammation.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Models
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disorder that is typically characterized by excessive mucus secretion, pulmonary inflammation, airway remodeling and emphysema. Animal models increase our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of COPD. Although these models are only able to simulate some of the characteristics of this disease, they are of great value for further study of the pathogenesis involved in human COPD. Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure, tracheal instillation of elastase and genetic manipulation are commonly used to reproduce COPD. These three approaches are employed because CS is the major risk factor associated with COPD, imbalance between elastase and anti-elastase activity results in the formation of emphysema, and predisposing genetic factors are related to the initiation and progression of COPD.
Pulmonary Fibrosis Models
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a specific disorder characterized by progressive fibrosis that commonly leads to end-stage lung disease, respiratory failure and fatal outcome. Since there are no natural models for IPF, it is necessary to use animal models to reproduce the key known features of this disease. Bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis is the best-characterized and currently most extensively used animal model due to its ability to replicate many aspects of IPF, good reproducibility, and ease of induction. As a chemotherapeutic antibiotic, BLM has been used in a variety of species including mice, rats, hamsters, dogs, guinea pigs and primates; yet, mice are most common. The BLM model is of great significance for the pathobiological studies of pulmonary fibrosis.
Study Endpoints
Thanks to our extensive expertise in all these respiratory indications, we have experience with most of the drug formulations targeting the lungs, and in most specific investigations for lung disorders:
- Cough monitoring
- Sputum Induction
- Nasal endoscopy
- Bronchoscopy and broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL)
- High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT)
- Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNo)
- Nasal and bronchial provocation tests
- Respiratory parameters (whole body plethysmography)
- Pulmonary function tests, including standard spirometry, reversibility test, plethysmography and lung clearance index (LCI)
- Cytokine analysis (IL1, IL4, IL5, IL8, IL13, IL6, TNF-alpha, …,)
At Creative Bioarray, our validated animal models enable our clients to evaluate the potential efficacy of novel anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and bronchodilators against asthma, COPD and pulmonary fibrosis. Our respiratory department also has the knowledge and skills to assess safety aspects in parallel with efficacy studies on the same species and at the same time. This combination of different technologies makes us an ideal partner for a quick answer about the potential efficacy of your compounds on respiratory diseases.
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