We are pleased to present the results of Maisie Wilcox’s 2025 BALR-BM Summer Studentship. A biomedical sciences student from the University of Manchester, Maisie applied her experience in respiratory research to a summer project investigating how bacteria and iron affect lung inflammation. Bacterial infections in the lungs can make breathing more difficult and trigger inflammation, sometimes leading to hospital visits. Maisie was studying why some people’s lungs are more vulnerable to these infections, especially when there are higher levels of iron in the lung tissue.
Her study looked at how bacteria and iron interact with the cells that line the blood vessels in the lungs, and how these cells communicate with immune cells called neutrophils, which help fight infection. While her study primarily focused on COPD, the processes under investigation, such as neutrophil activation, vascular inflammation and bacterial-driven immune responses, are highly relevant to bronchiectasis, ILD and other lung infections.
Key findings:
- Bacteria caused tiny gaps to form between lung blood vessel cells, weakening the barrier that normally protects lung tissue.
- These bacteria-exposed cells attracted more neutrophils, which can increase inflammation and, in some cases, damage lung tissue.
- When iron was also present in the lung cells, the gaps became slightly larger, suggesting that local iron in the lungs may make the effects of bacterial infection more noticeable.
Important note about iron:
Iron is essential for overall health, helping red blood cells carry oxygen, supporting energy levels, and preventing anemia.
The higher iron in the lungs seen in this study is a local effect related to inflammation and tissue changes, not from taking prescribed iron supplements. Patients should continue their iron treatment as advised by their healthcare team.
What this means:
These results help explain why infections can sometimes trigger strong inflammatory responses in the lungs. The research will now support a PhD project to investigate how local iron in the lungs interacts with bacteria and immune cells. The ultimate goal is to develop ways to protect the lungs during infection without affecting the iron that people need for their general health.
We thank Maisie for her dedication and hard work during the studentship and look forward to following her future achievements in respiratory research.
[Posted October 2025]