Optimization of combined measures of airway physiology and cardiovascular hemodynamics in mice

Pulmonary hypertension may arise as a complication of chronic lung disease typically associated with tissue hypoxia, as well as infectious agents or injury eliciting a type 2 immune response. The onset of pulmonary hypertension in this setting (classified as Group 3) often complicates treatment and worsens prognosis of chronic lung disease. Chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), emphysema, and interstitial lung fibrosis impair airflow and alter lung elastance in addition to affecting pulmonary vascular hemodynamics that may culminate in right ventricle dysfunction. To date, functional endpoints in murine models of chronic lung disease have typically been limited to separately measuring airway and lung parenchyma physiology. These approaches may be lengthy and require a large number of animals per experiment. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for combined assessment of airway physiology with cardiovascular hemodynamics in mice. Ultimately, a comprehensive overview of pulmonary function in murine models of injury and disease will facilitate the integration of studies of the airway and vascular biology necessary to understand underlying pathophysiology of Group 3 pulmonary hypertension.