Uszkodzenia i regeneracja nabłonka górnych i dolnych dróg oddechowych – walidacja doświadczalnych metod oceny.

Introduction. Airway epithelium is a mechanical barrier playing a protective role in anti-infectious immunity but also in pathophysiology of bronchial asthma. The epithelium can be damaged by endogenous or environmental factors. Aim. The aim of this study was to develop and standardize experimental model of the epithelial damage and assess the repair of epithelial cells of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Material and methods. Cell lines of epithelial upper (RPMI 2650) and lower airway (BEAS-2B) were employed in this study. The cells were cultured to confluence, damaged mechanically and the repair was evaluated by calculating the percentage of regenerated surface. Simultaneously the assessment of damage and regeneration of tight junction by measuring intraepithelial resistance (TER) was performed. Results. Epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract (RPMI 2650) underwent regeneration on average after 5±1 days and in cell cultures of lower respiratory tract complete regeneration of the damage was observed after 24±2 hours. The damage of RPMI 2650 cells took 72 hours to repair in 50% and full recovery was observed after 120 hours. Epithelial cells of the lower respiratory tract were much faster to regenerate and 50% of the damaged surface was regenerated within 6 hours from injury and complete recovery took 24 hours. During the regeneration of the cells the increase in the TER was observed. Conclusions. The in vitro model of epithelial damage and repair is suitable for assessment of endogenous and environmental factors affecting regeneration of the respiratory epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]