Characterization of two epithelial cell air-liquid interface (ALI) culture models for human healthy nasal mucosa and nasal polyps

Background: Primary human airway epithelial cells cultured in an air-liquid interface (ALI) develop a well-differentiated, polarized, and pseudostratified epithelium. Objective: To obtain and characterize human nasal mucosa and nasal polyp well-differentiated epithelia using an ALI culture system. Methods: Epithelial cells were obtained from 7 nasal mucosa (NM) and 9 nasal polyps (NP), and differentiated in ALI culture during 28 days. At different times (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days) were performed: ultrastructure study by electron microscopy (SEM, TEM); mucous and serous secretion by ELISA; cytokines and chemokines analysis by CBA (Cytometric Bead Array); and β-tubulin IV (cilia marker), MUC5AC (goblet cell marker) and p63 (basal cell marker) expression by immunocytochemistry. Results: In both NM and NP ALI cultures, pseudostratified epithelium with ciliated, mucus-secreting, and basal cells were observed by SEM and TEM at days 14 and 28. Displaying epithelial cell re-differentation, β-tubulin IV (ciliated cells) and MUC5AC (goblet cells) positive cells increased while p63 (basal cells) positive cells decreased overtime. In NP cultures MUC5AC secretion increased overtime compared to day 0 (100%), being significantly (p