AUTHOR=Lam Maggie , Lamanna Emma , Organ Louise , Donovan Chantal , Bourke Jane E. 

TITLE=Perspectives on precision cut lung slices—powerful tools for investigation of mechanisms and therapeutic targets in lung diseases

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2023.1162889

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2023.1162889

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Precision cut lung slices (PCLS) have emerged as powerful experimental tools for respiratory research. Pioneering studies using mouse PCLS to visualize intrapulmonary airway contractility have been extended to pulmonary arteries and for assessment of novel bronchodilators and vasodilators as therapeutics. Additional disease-relevant outcomes, including inflammatory, fibrotic, and regenerative responses, are now routinely measured in PCLS from multiple species, including humans. This review provides an overview of established and innovative uses of PCLS as an intermediary between cellular and organ-based studies and focuses on opportunities to increase their application to investigate mechanisms and therapeutic targets to oppose excessive airway contraction and fibrosis in lung diseases.</p>