[이슈밸리=권동혁 기자] A Korean research team completed the world’s first detailed 3D map of the blood vessels and lymphatics in the nose.
The Institute for Basic Science (IBS) announced on the 27th that the Center for Vascular Research Director Kyu-Young Koh and Research Fellow Seon-Pyo Hong’s research team completed a three-dimensional detailed map of the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels in the nose.
The nose is a sensory organ responsible for the sense of smell and is the first gateway for outside air to enter the lungs. It warms the outside air and increases humidity. carry out
In forming nasal immunity, the role of microvessels and lymphatic vessels is as important as the activity of immune cells. This is because immune cells migrate to the lymph nodes and play the role of a passage back to the nasal mucosa. However, due to the complex structure of the nasal cavity, the three-dimensional structure and cellular characteristics such as spatial distribution and interconnection of microvessels and lymphatics have not yet been clarified.
Accordingly, the research team created a three-dimensional micromap of microvessels and lymphatics in the nasal cavity by using an immunofluorescence staining method that allows antibodies that selectively bind to specific proteins in cells or tissues to be labeled with fluorescent materials and then reacted with proteins to observe their locations. has completed
The results showed that, in addition to the general capillaries, venous sinus vessels circulating venous blood were distributed over a wide range in the nasal cavity, and atypical lymphatic vessels with pointed ends accounted for a special distribution.
The research team also observed changes in blood vessels in the nasal cavity using experimental animal models such as allergic rhinitis and novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19). Then, it was confirmed that the venous sinus blood vessels atrophied due to rhinitis and inflammation occurred due to Corona 19. It was also confirmed for the first time that abnormal dilation of venous sinus blood vessels with aging was also confirmed.
Director Koh Kyu-young said, “Immune responses in the nose and throat, which are the targets of infection, are important, and understanding the function of blood vessels and lymphatics that regulate these immune responses is essential for research on preventing and treating infectious diseases.” It laid the foundation for great progress in my drug administration research.”