Development of Confocal Reflection Microscopy for the Study of Airway Surface Liquid Dysregulation in Cystic Fibrosis

In cystic fibrosis(CF) patients and βENaC-overexpressing mice, impaired airway epithelial ion transport produces airway surface liquid(ASL) depletion, leading to mucociliary dysfunction, mucus obstruction, chronic airway inflammation and infection. ASL homeostasis can be studied by measuring ASL height in primary epithelial cultures from murine and human airways. The height can be determined using confocal fluorescence microscopy; however the current protocol requires fluorescently labelled liquid addition to the apical side of the epithelium resulting in nonphysiological conditions. The aim of this project is t…