Monolayers of human alveolar epithelial cells in primary culture for pulmonary absorption and transport studies.

Autor: Elbert KJ; Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany., Schäfer UF, Schäfers HJ, Kim KJ, Lee VH, Lehr CM
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Pharmaceutical research [Pharm Res] 1999 May; Vol. 16 (5), pp. 601-8.
DOI: 10.1023/a:1018887501927
Abstrakt: Purpose: To develop a cell culture model of human alveolar epithelial cells in primary culture for the in vitro study of pulmonary absorption and transport.
Methods: Type II pneumocytes isolated from normal human distal lung tissue by enzyme treatment and subsequent purification were plated on fibronectin/collagen coated polyester filter inserts, and cultured using a low-serum growth medium. Characterization of the cell culture was achieved by bioelectric measurements, cell-specific lectin binding, immunohistochemical detection of cell junctions, and by assessment of transepithelial transport of dextrans of varying molecular weights.
Results: In culture, the isolated cells spread into confluent monolayers, exhibiting peak transepithelial resistance of 2,180 +/- 62 ohms x cm2 and potential difference of 13.5 +/- 1.0 mV (n = 30-48), and developing tight junctions as well as desmosomes. As assessed by lectin-binding, the cell monolayers consisted of mainly type I cells with some interspersed type II cells, thus well mimicking the situation in vivo. The permeability of hydrophilic macromolecular FITC-dextrans across the cell monolayer was found to be inversely related to their molecular size, with Papp values ranging from 1.7 to 0.2 x 10(-8) cm/sec.
Conclusions: A primary cell culture model of human alveolar epithelial cells has been established, which appears to be a valuable in vitro model for pulmonary drug delivery and transport studies.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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