An optimized in vitro model of the respiratory tract wall to study particle cell interactions

Blank, Fabian; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara M; Schurch, Samuel; Gehr, Peter (2006). An optimized in vitro model of the respiratory tract wall to study particle cell interactions. Journal of aerosol medicine - deposition, clearance, and effects in the lung, 19(3), pp. 392-405. New York, N.Y.: Mary Ann Liebert 10.1089/jam.2006.19.392

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As a part of the respiratory tissue barrier, lung epithelial cells play an important role against the penetration of the body by inhaled particulate foreign materials. In most cell culture models, which are designed to study particle-cell interactions, the cells are immersed in medium. This does not reflect the physiological condition of lung epithelial cells which are exposed to air, separated from it only by a very thin liquid lining layer with a surfactant film at the air-liquid interface. In this study, A549 epithelial cells were grown on microporous membranes in a two chamber system. After the formation of a confluent monolayer the cells were exposed to air. The morphology of the cells and the expression of tight junction proteins were studied with confocal laser scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Air-exposed cells maintained monolayer structure for 2 days, expressed tight junctions and developed transepithelial electrical resistance. Surfactant was produced and released at the apical side of the air-exposed epithelial cells. In order to study particle-cell interactions fluorescent 1 microm polystyrene particles were sprayed over the epithelial surface. After 4 h, 8.8% of particles were found inside the epithelium. This fraction increased to 38% after 24 h. During all observations, particles were always found in the cells but never between them. In this study, we present an in vitro model of the respiratory tract wall consisting of air-exposed lung epithelial cells covered by a liquid lining layer with a surfactant film to study particle-cell interactions.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Anatomy
UniBE Contributor:	Blank, Fabian, Gehr, Peter
ISSN:	0894-2684
ISBN:	17034314
Publisher:	Mary Ann Liebert
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:46
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:14
Publisher DOI:	10.1089/jam.2006.19.392
PubMed ID:	17034314
Web of Science ID:	000241596300016
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/18929 (FactScience: 1200)