Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) shows progressive, irreversible airflow limitation induced by emphysema and lung inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine if COPD conditions induce blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction.
They found that intratracheal administration of porcine pancreatic elastase induced alveolar enlargement, increased neutrophil numbers in bronchoalveolar fluid and decreased blood oxygen saturation in mice at 21 days post inhalation. At the same time BBB permeability to sodium fluorescein and Evans blue albumin was markedly increased concluding that COPD conditions are associated with risk for BBB impairment.
— From Elevated permeability of the blood-brain barrier in mice intratracheally administered porcine pancreatic elastase by Fuyuko Takata, Koji Tominaga, Mitsuhisa Koga, Shinya Dohgu, Koujiro Futagami, Atsushi Yamauchi, Yasufumi Kataoka
This study shows one of the many ways porcine models can aid in human health breakthroughs. In the past, researchers have used porcine tissue to repair human tendons.
