LPS and bacterial lung inflammation models

Animal models of bacterial pneumonia and LPS-induced inflammation are widely employed to investigate host-response patterns within the pulmonary compartment. LPS-induced inflammation is used to understand the pulmonary response to selected bacterial ligands and serves as a simplified model for acute lung injury. Infection models with whole bacteria are helpful in comprehending host defense pathways, and they also provide a useful tool for studying the efficacy of drugs or vaccination protocols in vivo. This review discusses in vitro and in vivo models of lower respiratory tract inflammation and gives a brief overview of methods currently applied.

Section editor:Michelle Epstein – Department of Dermatology, DIAID, Experimental Allergy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria