Abstract
For over 30 years, immortalized lung cells have enabled researchers to elucidate lung-pathogen molecular interactions. However, over the last five years, numerous commercial companies are now providing affordable, ready-to-use primary lung cells for use in research laboratories. Despite advances in primary cell culture, studies using immortalized lung cells still dominate the recent scientific literature. In this review, we highlight recent influenza and anthrax studies using in vitro primary lung tissue models and how these models are providing better predictive outcomes for when extrapolated to in vivo observations. By focusing on one virus (influenza) and one bacterium (Bacillus anthracis), it is the intent that these primary lung cell culture observations may translate into more useful studies for other related viral and bacterial lung pathogens of interest.
Highlights
Immortalized cells, created through genetic techniques or isolated from cancerous tumors, have been instrumental in our understanding of molecular biology
Immortalized cells have been invaluable in helping biotechnology companies produce a variety of cell-derived vaccines on a global scale [1,2,3]
A drawback of using immortalized cells to answer basic research biological questions is that these cells have rapid and uncharacteristic proliferation that is not typical of a normal cell state
Summary
Immortalized cells, created through genetic techniques or isolated from cancerous tumors, have been instrumental in our understanding of molecular biology. In prior decades, immortalized cell lines were often the only option for use by cell biologists to understand host cellular responses to pathogens in vitro. HBTEC—Human Bronchial Tracheal Epithelial Cells; 2 NHBE—Normal Human Bronchial Epithelial; 3 available in air-liquid interface options; 4 NHLF—Normal human lung fibroblasts; 5 available in diseased states (COPD, asthma); 6 iPF—Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; 7 HMLEC—Human Lung Microvascular Endothelial Cells;. Considering both the increasing convenience and affordability for using primary cells, one could make a compelling argument that immortalized cells should not be used when there is a primary cell counterpart commercially available. Interpretations that can occur from using immortalized versus primary cells are highlighted
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