Characterisation and culture of primary human nasal epithelial cells and the influence of Interferon-gamma

Abstract

Background The nasal epithelium with its tight junctions (TJs) represents an important barrier against the penetration of exogenous substances (e.g. allergens, pollutants and pathogens). Damage of the epithelium allows higher amounts of inhaled allergens and pollutants to penetrate the mucosa. Our laboratory has previously used a bronchial epithelial cell line to investigate epithelial damage by various factors [cigarette smoke (Gangl et al., 2009) and cytokines (Reisinger et al., 2005)]. Cultures of primary epithelial cells obtained from nasal epithelium should be superior in resembling the natural situation in the nose and allow a comparison of epithelia from non-allergic and allergic patients. Our aim was to establish primary human nasal epithelial cell culture in a transwell system and to investigate the epithelial barrier function and the properties of the nasal epithelium. Additionally we compared different epithelial cell culture systems to investigate damage and repair in primary human nasal epithelial cells.