Characterisation of protective secretory responses of the airway epithelium elicited by acute acrolein exposure in an ex vivo model of mouse airways

The airway epithelium is a central component of the lung’s defence system. This PhD thesis has characterised secretory responses of the airway epithelium elicited by acrolein, a key compound contained in smoke, involving the secretion of two major compounds-mucins and PGE2. A novel dynamic ex vivo perfusion model was developed to further characterise acrolein-induced mucin secretion. Additionally, a novel secretory response elicited by acrolein involving epithelial secretion of PGE2 was also discovered and found to be modulated by influenza A infection. Together, these findings provide important insights into secretory responses that serve an important protective function against acrolein.