High-Throughput in-vitro Airway Modelling with ThinCert® 96 Well HTS Inserts
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Growing cells in an air-liquid interface (ALI) is a popular method to generate a stable and functional model of the respiratory tract by recreating a pseudostratified epithelium in-vitro.
ALI cell cultures are frequently adopted to investigate different processes associated to lower airways including disease modelling [1,2], drug testing, cell-to-cell signalling and air pollutant-induced pulmonary toxicity studies [3]. To establish an ALI cell culture, normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBEs) are cultivated on a porous membrane insert (ThinCert® 96 well HTS insert).
In the initial phase the cells are grown under submerged conditions to form a confluent cell layer. Once this is achieved, the media is removed from the membrane insert and the cells are transferred to the air-liquid interphase.
Due to the two-component design of the ThinCert® HTS insert, the basal side of the cells are still in direct contact with the cell culture medium while the apical side is exposed to air. In this way the cells undergo a morphological and functional differentiation similar to that found in intact tissues. This includes the formation of tight junctions, the development of cilia and mucus and an,established cellular polarity.
ThinCert® 96 Well Range
- Bluhmki, T., Bitzer, S., Gindele, J.A. et al. Development of a miniaturized 96-Transwell air–liquid interface human small airway epithelial model. Sci Rep 10, 13022 (2020)
- Schögler, A., Blank, F., Brügger, M. et al.Characterization of pediatric cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cell cultures at the air-liquid interface obtained by non-invasive nasal cytology brush sampling. Respir Res 18, 215 (2017)
- Upadhyay S, Palmberg L. Air-Liquid Interface: Relevant In Vitro Models for Investigating Air Pollutant-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity. Toxicol Sci. 2018 Jul 1;164(1):21-30
