Overview
In vitro models for the human airway using primary nasal, tracheal or bronchial epithelial cells are instrumental in studying basic and applied aspects of airway biology and disease.
Our team specializes in the isolation of human and murine primary airway epithelial cells. We further have the possibility to culture a variety of epithelial cell lines of pulmonary and non-pulmonary origin. To closely mimic the in vivo conditions in the airways, we provide expertise with differentiated and polarized airway epithelial cultures grown at air-liquid interfaced conditions.
The tissue culture laboratory provides high-quality instrumentation for research projects for TLRC scientists and collaborators within the DZL. We offer training sessions in cell and tissue culture techniques, troubleshooting and cell biology protocols. We support scientists in developing their experimental designs for cell-based assays (e.g. gene expression analysis, protein detection, functional studies of airway epithelial physiology).
Techniques
- Standard cell culture procedures including media preparation, cryo-storage, mycoplasma testing and maintenance of both, primary and continuous epithelial cell lines
- Optimization of epithelial cell culture conditions for individual studies (e.g. air-liquid interfaced conditions, submerged culture)
- Isolation of epithelial cells from excised human and murine airway tissues
- Isolation of murine alveolar epithelial cells
- RNA/protein isolation
- RNAi studies