Authors: Sofia Mogren, Frida Berlin, Cecilia K Andersson, Lena Uller, Celeste Porsbjerg, Sangeetha Ramu, Asger Sverrild

Journal: Cell Adhesion & Migration (2021)

Institution: Lund University

Research Areas: Cell research

Cell Lines: BEAS-2B (Human bronchial epithelial cells)

Summary: Epithelial damage and increase of intraepithelial mast cells (MC) are characteristics of asthma. The authors aim to determine the role of MC mediator tryptase and the protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) on epithelial wound healing. The study shows that tryptase has a potent mitogenic effect on both migration and proliferation in normal bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B and increased epithelial production of several growth factors, suggesting that tryptase might be beneficial in tissue repair under baseline conditions. However, in a pathological context such as asthma with increased numbers of activated MCs, it might lead to epithelial remodeling and loss of function. HoloMonitor M4 was used to study cell migration, wound healing gap closer rate, and morphology before and after treatment with stimulators or repressors of tryptase and PAR2.

Keywords: HoloMonitor M4, cell migration, single cell tracking, wound healing, cell morphology, mast cell, tryptase, epithelial cells, protease activated receptor 2