Development of an in vitro human nasal epithelial (HNE) cell model

The Path from Nasal Tissue to Nasal Mucosa on Chip: Part 1-Establishing a Nasal In Vitro Model for Drug Delivery Testing Based on a Novel Cell Line

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the registration of drugs for nasal application with systemic effects. Previous preclinical in vitro test systems for transmucosal drug absorption studies have mostly been based on primary cells or on tumor cell lines such as RPMI 2650, but both approaches have disadvantages. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish and characterize a novel immortalized nasal epithelial cell line as the basis for an improved 3D cell culture model of the nasal mucosa. First, porcine primary cells were isolated and transfected. The P1 cell line obtained from this process was characterized in terms of its expression of tissue-specific properties, namely, mucus expression, cilia formation, and epithelial barrier formation. Using air-liquid interface cultivation, it was possible to achieve both high mucus formation and the development of functional cilia. Epithelial integrity was expressed as both transepithelial electrical resistance and mucosal permeability, which was determined for sodium fluorescein, rhodamine B, and FITC-dextran 4000. We noted a high comparability of the novel cell culture model with native excised nasal mucosa in terms of these measures. Thus, this novel cell line seems to offer a promising approach for developing 3D nasal mucosa tissues that exhibit favorable characteristics to be used as an in vitro system for testing drug delivery systems.

Generation of 3D human gastrointestinal organoids: principle and applications

The stomach and intestine are important organs for food digestion, nutrient absorption, immune protection and hormone production. Gastrointestinal diseases such as cancer and ulcer are big threats to human health. Appropriate disease models are in sore need for mechanistic understanding and drug discovery. Organoids are three-dimensional in vitro cultured structures derived from tissues and pluripotent stem cells with multiple types of cells and mimicking in vivo tissues in major aspects. They have a great potential in regenerative medicine and personalized medicine. Here, we review the major signaling pathways regulating gastrointestinal epithelial homeostasis, summarize different methods to generate human gastrointestinal organoids and highlight their applications in biological research and medical practice.

Models for the study of nasal and sinus physiology in health and disease: A review of the literature

Objective

Chronic sinusitis is a very common yet poorly understood medical condition with significant morbidity. Hence, it remains an entity that is difficult to treat with unsatisfactory outcomes of current management options. This necessitates research into the etiology and pathophysiology of the condition to enhance our knowledge and the therapeutic options. Unfortunately, this kind of research is not always feasible on human subjects due to practical and ethical limitations. Therefore, an alternative model that simulates the disease had to be found in order to overcome these limitations. These models could either be in vivo or in vitro. The aim of our review is to summarize the research findings and key discoveries of both in vivo and in vitro models of chronic sinusitis that have enhanced our understanding of the condition today and have paved the way for the future research of tomorrow.

Data Sources: PubMed literature review.

Methods

A review of the literature was conducted to identify the main successful in vivo and in vitro models for chronic sinusitis.

Results

Creating a successful model for chronic sinusitis is no easy task. Over the years, both in vivo animal models and in vitro tissue culture models were proposed, with each model having its accolades and pitfalls, with the ideal model remaining elusive to this day. However, advancing three‐dimensional cell culturing techniques seems to be a promising new way to find a more accurate model.

Conclusion

None of the current models is perfect for a thorough study of chronic sinusitis. However, three‐dimensional cell cultures have the potential to bridge the gap between in vivo and in vitro studies.

Level of Evidence

NA

Cloning and variation of ground state intestinal stem cells

Stem cells of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, liver, and other columnar epithelia collectively resist cloning in their elemental states. Here we demonstrate the cloning and propagation of highly clonogenic, “ground state” stem cells of the human intestine and colon. We show that derived stem cell pedigrees sustain limited copy number and sequence variation despite extensive serial passaging and display exquisitely precise, cell-autonomous commitment to epithelial differentiation consistent with their origins along the intestinal tract. This developmentally patterned and epigenetically maintained commitment of stem cells likely enforces the functional specificity of the adult intestinal tract. Using clonally-derived colonic epithelia, we show that toxins A or B of the enteric pathogen C. difficile recapitulate the salient features of pseudomembranous colitis. The stability of the epigenetic commitment programs of these stem cells, coupled with their unlimited replicative expansion and maintained clonogenicity, suggests certain advantages for their use in disease modeling and regenerative medicine.

p63(+)Krt5(+) distal airway stem cells are essential for lung regeneration

Many patients experiencing sudden loss of lung tissue somehow undergo full recovery; here this recovery is traced to a discrete population of lung stem cells that are not only essential for lung regeneration but can be cloned and then transplanted to other mice to contribute new lung tissue.

The extent to which patients can recover after massive loss of lung tissue has been unclear. However, clinical experience has shown that large-scale lung regeneration can occur in children and adults following catastrophic lung damage, and previous studies in mice have linked a subset of cells from distal airway to a regeneration process observed after H1N1 influenza virus mediated injury. Two papers published in this issue show that when the epithelial cells lining the interior of the lung are damaged, a rare stem cell population is induced to proliferate and migrate to the damaged site where they differentiate into several cell types. Frank McKeon and colleagues describe a rare subset of mouse distal airway cells that proliferate after exposure to influenza. These cells can contribute to lung regeneration after transplantation and maintain their intrinsic lineage commitment in cell culture, suggesting that such cell subsets may have potential in stem-cell-based therapies. Harold Chapman and colleagues used lineage tracing to identify a population of quiescent cells in the mouse distal lung that are activated after bleomycin or influenza-mediated injury. These cells express cytokeratin 5 and repair the epithelium through a Notch signalling pathway, although persistent Notch signalling in this context then leads to the formation of cysts. Data from patients suffering from lung fibrosis also show the presence of hyperactive Notch and similar cysts.

Lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease¹ and pulmonary fibrosis² involve the progressive and inexorable destruction of oxygen exchange surfaces and airways, and have emerged as a leading cause of death worldwide. Mitigating therapies, aside from impractical organ transplantation, remain limited and the possibility of regenerative medicine has lacked empirical support. However, it is clinically known that patients who survive sudden, massive loss of lung tissue from necrotizing pneumonia^3,4 or acute respiratory distress syndrome^5,6 often recover full pulmonary function within six months. Correspondingly, we recently demonstrated lung regeneration in mice following H1N1 influenza virus infection, and linked distal airway stem cells expressing Trp63 (p63) and keratin 5, called DASC^p63/Krt5, to this process⁷. Here we show that pre-existing, intrinsically committed DASC^p63/Krt5 undergo a proliferative expansion in response to influenza-induced lung damage, and assemble into nascent alveoli at sites of interstitial lung inflammation. We also show that the selective ablation of DASC^p63/Krt5in vivo prevents this regeneration, leading to pre-fibrotic lesions and deficient oxygen exchange. Finally, we demonstrate that single DASC^p63/Krt5-derived pedigrees differentiate to type I and type II pneumocytes as well as bronchiolar secretory cells following transplantation to infected lung and also minimize the structural consequences of endogenous stem cell loss on this process. The ability to propagate these cells in culture while maintaining their intrinsic lineage commitment suggests their potential in stem cell-based therapies for acute and chronic lung diseases.

Distal airway stem cells yield alveoli in vitro and during lung regeneration following H1N1 influenza infection

The extent of lung regeneration following catastrophic damage and the potential role of adult stem cells in such a process remains obscure. Sublethal infection of mice with an H1N1 influenza virus related to that of the 1918 pandemic triggers massive airway damage followed by apparent regeneration. We show here that p63-expressing stem cells in the bronchiolar epithelium undergo rapid proliferation after infection and radiate to interbronchiolar regions of alveolar ablation. Once there, these cells assemble into discrete, Krt5+ pods and initiate expression of markers typical of alveoli. Gene expression profiles of these pods suggest that they are intermediates in the reconstitution of the alveolar-capillary network eradicated by viral infection. The dynamics of this p63-expressing stem cell in lung regeneration mirrors our parallel finding that defined pedigrees of human distal airway stem cells assemble alveoli-like structures in vitro and suggests new therapeutic avenues to acute and chronic airway disease.

Lipophilic derivatives of leu-enkephalinamide: in vitro permeability, stability and in vivo nasal delivery

Leu-enkephalin is an endogenous pain modulating opioid pentapeptide. Its development as a potential pharmaceutic has been hampered by poor membrane permeability and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation. The addition of an unnatural amino acid containing a lipidic side chain at the N-terminus and the modification of the C-terminus to a carboxyamide was performed to enhance the nasal delivery of the peptide. Two lipidic derivatives with varying side chain lengths (C(8)-Enk-NH(2) (1), C(12)-Enk-NH(2) (2)) and their acetylated analogues were successfully synthesised. Caco-2 cell monolayer permeability and Caco-2 cell homogenate stability assays were performed. C(8)-Enk-NH(2) (1) and its acetylated analogue Ac-C8-Enk-NH(2) (3) exhibited apparent permeabilities (mean±SD) of 2.51±0.75×10(-6)cm/s and 1.06±0.62×10(-6), respectively. C12-Enk-NH(2) (2) exhibited an apparent permeability of 2.43±1.26×10(-6) cm/s while Ac-C12-Enk-NH(2) (4) was not permeable through the Caco-2 monolayers due to its poor solubility. All analogues exhibited improved Caco-2 homogenate stability compared to Leu-Enk-NH(2) with t(½) values of: C8-Enk-NH(2) (1): 31.7 min, C(12)-Enk-NH(2) (2): 14.7 min, Ac-C8-Enk-NH(2) (3): 83 min, Ac-C(12)-Enk-NH(2) (4): 27 min. However, plasma stability assays revealed that the diastereoisomers of C8-Enk-NH(2) (1) did not degrade at the same rate, with the l isomer (t(1/2)=8.9 min) degrading into Leu-enkephalinamide and then des-Tyr-Leu-Enk-NH(2), whereas the d isomer was stable (t(1/2)=120 min). In vivo nasal administration of C(8)-Enk-NH(2) to male rats resulted in concentrations of 5.9±1.84×10(-2) μM in the olfactory bulbs, 1.35±1.01×10(-2) μM in the brain and 6.53±1.87×10(-3) μM in the blood 10 min after administration.

Proinflammatory impact of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B on human nasal epithelial cells and inhibition by dexamethasone

BACKGROUND

The pathophysiology and etiology of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) are poorly understood. Although a potential role of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) in the pathogenesis of CRSwNP has been detected, additional studies are needed on the impact of SE on nasal epithelial cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) on proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine releases in primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNEC) of subjects with and without CRSwNP and the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoid on it.

METHODS

Epithelial cells of NP and inferior turbinate (IT) were cultured serum free under stimulus of SEB, and interleukin (IL)-1beta, respectively. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoid on the proinflammatory response was investigated by addition of dexamethasone. In situ hybridization and Western immunoblot assays were used to investigate the proinflammatory impact of SEB on IL-5 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mRNA levels and protein production in HNEC.

RESULTS

Results indicate (1) stimulation of HNEC with SEB resulted in increased IL-5 and GM-CSF expression, which could be suppressed by dexamethasone (p < 0.05), and SEB at concentrations of 1-100 ng/mL effectively promoted IL-5 and GM-CSF release by HNEC (p < 0.05); (2) patients with CRSwNP showed a significantly increased expression of IL-5 and GM-CSF in HNEC than patients without CRSwNP (p < 0.05); and (3) the expression of IL-5 and GM-CSF was significantly up-regulated under the stimulus of SEB compared with IL-1beta (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

SEB acts as a superantigen and exhibits a dramatic proinflammatory impact on HNEC, which can be inhibited by the addition of glucocorticoid.

In vitro culture of porcine respiratory nasal mucosa explants for studying the interaction of porcine viruses with the respiratory tract

The mucosal surface of the respiratory tract is a common site of entry of many viruses. Molecular and cellular aspects of the interactions of respiratory viruses with the respiratory nasal mucosa are largely unknown. In order to be able to study those interactions in depth, an in vitro model was set up. This model consists of porcine respiratory nasal mucosa explants, cultured at an air-liquid interface. Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, combined with morphometric analysis and a fluorescent Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP Nick End Labelling (TUNEL) staining were used to evaluate the effects of in vitro culture on the integrity and viability of the explants. The explants were maintained in culture for up to 60 h post-sampling without significant morphometric (epithelial thickness, epithelial morphology, thickness of the lamina reticularis, continuity of the lamina densa, relative amounts of collagen and nuclei) changes and changes in viability. The potential to infect the explants was demonstrated for two porcine respiratory viruses of major importance: suid herpesvirus 1 and swine influenza virus H1N1. In conclusion, this in vitro model represents an ideal tool to study interactions between infectious agents and porcine respiratory nasal mucosa.

The use of human nasal in vitro cell systems during drug discovery and development

The nasal route is widely used for the administration of drugs for both topical and systemic action. At an early stage in drug discovery and during the development process, it is essential to gain a thorough insight of the nasal absorption potential, metabolism and toxicity of the active compound and the components of the drug formulation. Human nasal epithelial cell cultures may provide a reliable screening tool for pharmaco-toxicological assessment of potential nasal drug formulations. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the information relevant for the development of a human nasal epithelial cell culture model useful during drug discovery and development. A primary goal in the development of in vitro cell culture systems is to maintain differentiated morphology and biochemical features, resembling the original tissue as closely as possible. The potential and limitations of the existing in vitro human nasal models are summarized. The following topics related to cell culture methodology are discussed: (i) primary cultures versus cell lines; (ii) cell-support substrate; (iii) medium and medium supplements; and (iv) the air-liquid interface model versus liquid-liquid. Several considerations with respect to the use of in vitro systems for pharmaceutical applications (transport, metabolism, assessment of ciliary toxicity) are also discussed.

Stable ciliary activity in human nasal epithelial cells grown in a perfusion system

PURPOSE

Explore the usefulness of a perfusion system in order to establish human nasal epithelial cell cultures suitable for long-term in vitro ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and cilio-toxicity studies.

METHODS

The cells were obtained by protease digestion of nasal biopsy material. The cells were plated at a density of 0.8-1 x 10(6)/cm2 on Vitrogen-coated polyethylene terephthalate membranes, and cultured under submerged conditions in a CO2 incubator or in a perfusion system (initiated on days 8-9 after plating). The CBF was determined at 24.1 +/- 0.8 degrees C by a computerized microscope photometry system. The morphology of the cultured cells was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

RESULTS

Under CO2 incubator culture conditions, stable ciliary activity was expressed and maintained from day 2 to day 24. Under perfusion system culture conditions, the CBF (mean+/-S.D., n = 4) amounted to 8.4 +/- 0.9 and 8.8 +/- 0.4 Hz on days 7 and 14, respectively. These values were lower as compared to the corresponding CBF obtained in the CO2 incubator cultures (9.5 +/- 0.6 and 9.9 +/- 1.0 Hz, respectively). Reference cilio-stimulatory (glycocholate) and cilio-inhibitory (chlorocresol) compounds were used to assess CBF reactivity. In the CO2 incubator and 7- and 14-days perfusion system cultures, glycocholate (0.5%) showed a reversible cilio-stimulatory effect of 23, 26 and 21%, respectively, while chlorocresol (0.005%) exerted a reversible cilio-inhibitory effect of 36, 40 and 36%, respectively. TEM revealed polarized cuboidal to columnar epithelial morphology, with well-differentiated ciliated cells under CO2 and perfusion system conditions (up to day 23).

CONCLUSION

Culturing human nasal epithelial cells on Vitrogen-coated polyethylene terephthalate membranes in submerged conditions in a CO2 incubator and in a perfusion system offers the possibility for long-term preservation (up to 22-24 days) of stable and reactive CBF in vitro.

Serially passaged human nasal epithelial cell monolayer for in vitro drug transport studies

PURPOSE

To evaluate the feasibility of using a serially passaged culture of human nasal epithelial cell monolayers on a permeable support for in vitro drug transport studies. The optimum conditions for passaged culture as well as the correlation between the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) value and drug permeability (Papp) were evaluated.

METHODS

Fresh human nasal epithelial cells were collected from normal inferior turbinates and were subcultured repeatedly in serum-free bronchial epithelial cell growth media (BEGM) in petri dishes. The subcultured cells of each passage were seeded onto permeable supports at 5 x 10(5) cells/cm2 and grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM). Morphologic characteristics were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To verify the formation of tight junctions, actin staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies were conducted. In the drug transport study, [14C]mannitol and budesonide were selected as the paracellular and the transcellular route markers, respectively.

RESULTS

Serially passaged cells were successfully cultured on a permeable support and showed significantly high TEER values up to passage 4. After 14 days of seeding, SEM showed microvilli, and protrusions of cilia and mucin granules were detected by TEM. The paracellular marker [14C]mannitol showed a nearly constant permeability coefficient (Papp) when the TEER value exceeded 500 omega x cm2 regardless of the passage number. However, as expected, budesonide showed a higher permeability coefficient compared to [14C]mannitol and was less affected by the TEER value.

CONCLUSIONS

Human nasal epithelial cell monolayers were successfully subcultured on a permeable support up to passage 4. These cell culture methods may be useful in high-throughput screening of in vitro nasal transport studies of various drugs.

Evaluation of serum-free culture conditions for primary human nasal epithelial cells

Defined culture conditions are essential for the interpretation of effects caused by volatile substances on human nasal epithelial cells (HUNEC) cultured in vitro. Conventionally, serum-containing media are used. However, the results of these experiments are of restricted value as serum contains many unknown and undefined substances. Not all serum-free media on the market are suitable for culturing primary HUNEC. Therefore, serum-free defined cell culture media were compared to evaluate optimal conditions for HUNEC and their cell lines. HUNEC were generated by trypsin digestion of mucosal tissue of the inferior turbinate. Cells were cultured on uncoated polystyrene dishes adding pre-warmed medium. Viability was controlled by trypan blue dye exclusion; colony forming units and cell morphology were controlled microscopically. The expression of different cytokeratins was studied immunocytochemically. Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium was not suitable to grow HUNEC and passage them. HUNEC cultured in bronchial epithelial growth medium presented a more homogeneous cell morphology compared to other media and had a doubling time of 1.2 days. The maximum number of cell passages was 11 with bronchial epithelial growth medium.

In vitro culture of microdissected rat nasal airway tissues

The surface epithelium lining the nasal airways is a potential target for inhaled contaminants such as ozone, endotoxin, formaldehyde, tobacco smoke, and organic dusts. The epithelial response to injury may depend on the toxicant, the type of epithelium, the severity of the injury, and the presence of inflammatory cells and their secreted products. To study mechanisms of toxicant-induced epithelial injury and repair, in the absence of cellular inflammation or other systemic effects, we have developed a culture system to maintain morphologically distinct nasal airway epithelium in vitro. Microdissected maxilloturbinates and proximal nasal septa of male F344/N rats were cultured at an air-liquid interface for up to 14 d in supplemented serum-free medium. Maxilloturbinates are lined by nonciliated cuboidal nasal transitional epithelium (NTE) with few or no mucous cells. The proximal nasal septum is lined by a mucociliary respiratory epithelium (RE) that normally contains numerous mucous cells. Preservation of the normal RE and NTE phenotype in culture was assessed by light and electron microscopy, and analysis of an airway mucin gene (rMuc-5AC) messenger RNA (mRNA). Both RE and NTE retained normal cell morphology for 14 d in culture (DIC). After 14 DIC there were 20% fewer RE cells in the septa (equal loss of ciliated and mucous cells) and 25% more NTE cells in the maxilloturbinates (increased number of basal cells). Compared with the RE, the NTE expressed consistently low levels of rMuc-5AC mRNA and had little to no histochemically detectable intraepithelial mucosubstances (IM) after 0, 3, 7, or 14 DIC. The amount of stored IM and the steady-state levels of rMuc-5AC mRNA in the RE decreased with time in culture. In summary, this culture system can maintain fully differentiated secretory and nonsecretory rat airway epithelia in vitro for up to 14 d. This study was an essential first step in developing a system to study the pathogenesis of toxicant-induced airway epithelial injury and mechanisms of cellular repair and adaptation in the absence of cellular inflammation and other systemic influences.