A detailed three-dimensional map of the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels in the nose was created for the first time. It is expected to become a milestone in nasal immunity research, such as identifying the cause of symptoms of COVID-19 or improving the treatment of rhinitis.
The Institute of Basic Science (IBS, President Noh Do-young) announced on the 22nd that Vascular Research Center Director Kyu-Young Ko (distinguished professor at KAIST Graduate School of Medical Science) and research fellow Seon-Pyo Hong’s research team have completed . the first detailed three-dimensional map of the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels in the nose.
This study was chosen as the cover paper of the journal ‘Nature Cardiovascular Research’.
The nose is the first portal for outside air to enter the lungs. It warms the air outside and increases humidity, and especially the nasal mucosa is the first immune barrier that blocks external pathogens and foreign substances.
The Vascular Research Center noted in previous studies that ciliated epithelial cells, which account for most of the mucosal epithelial cells, are the main target for early infection and proliferation of COVID-19, and that the formation of mucosal immunity through intranasal vaccine administration is one. an effective strategy for preventing and treating COVID-19. It was said that it can be done.
In the formation of nasal immunity, not only the activity of immune cells but also micro-vessels and lymphatics play a major role. This is because it acts as a pathway for immune cells to migrate to the lymph nodes and return to the nasal mucosa. However, the three-dimensional structure and cell-level characteristics, such as the spatial distribution and interconnection of microvessels and lymphatics in the nasal cavity, have not yet been elucidated.
The research team completed a three-dimensional micromap of microvessels and lymphatics in the nasal cavities of mice and humans by using an immunofluorescence staining method where antibodies that bind selectively to specific proteins are labeled with fluorescent materials and react with proteins to observe their location. In addition to the morphological structure of the nasal cavity, the characteristics of the immune response at the molecular and cellular level were also identified through single-cell genetic analysis.
As a result of the analysis, in addition to the general capillaries, venous sinus vessels were distributed that circulate venous blood over a wide range in the nasal cavity. In addition, atypical lymphatic vessels with pointed ends showed a special distribution. The ends of the lymphatic vessels are usually round.
It is explained that the distribution of these blood vessels and lymphatic vessels is specialized to perform well the immune response against pathogens that invade from the outside. They found that the protein VCAM1, which plays an important role in immune cell migration, was specifically expressed in the venous sinus vessels, and that more diverse immune cells migrated within the atypical lymphatic vessels than in the lymphatic vessels others. organs.
In addition, the research team observed changes in blood vessels in the nasal cavity using experimental animal models such as allergic rhinitis and COVID-19. Venous sinus atrophy was observed in animals with rhinitis, and inflammation was observed in animals with COVID-19. Director Koh Kyu-young said, “If you have rhinitis, the blood vessels around you atrophy due to inflammation, which creates a vicious cycle where you cannot defend against the invading pathogens.” he said.
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The precise three-dimensional map of the blood and lymphatic vessels in the nose is expected to contribute to the development of new infectious disease treatments, such as vaccine injection through the nasal cavity. It is expected to be used to find ways to increase the effectiveness of vaccine injection based on knowledge of the pathway to and from nasal mucosal epithelial cells.
Research Fellow Seon-Pyo Hong said, “The results of this study suggest that effective nasal immunity against viral infections can be established by activating specialized blood vessels and lymphatic vessels in the nasal cavity.
