Project description:We report the application of single-cell-based sequencing technology for high-throughput profiling of cell types and and transcriptional state of cells in the complex tissue of the human airway epithelium. Our model system is that of polarized human airway epithelial cultures, differentiated from hTert-immortalized basal-like precursor cells.
Project description:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease state characterized by poorly reversible, limited airflow that is usually both progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lung. One cause of COPD is chronic exposure to airborne materials such as cigarette smoke (CS), which leads to impaired respiratory function in damaged tissues. Damaged epithelial tissue initiates repair processes including proliferation and re-differentiation until there is complete regeneration of a pseudostratified epithelium. These repair processes in airway epithelial tissues are essential for maintaining normal airway function. However, impairment of epithelial repair leads to architectural changes through region-dependent remodeling processes that are associated with a fixed airflow limitation in COPD. To fully understand what factors mostly contribute to airway remodeling heterogeneity in COPD pathogenesis, we used two in vitro human airway epithelial 3D culture models, namely, MucilAir™ and SmallAir™ tissues, which are derived from large and small airway epithelial cells, respectively. To focus on regional heterogeneity of the respiratory tract, tissues from a single donor were used to eliminate potential donor-to-donor differences in responses to external stimuli. We exposed the tissues to different concentrations of whole CS (low, middle, and high), and examined the transcriptome at different post-exposure periods (4, 24, 48, and 72 h post-exposure).
Project description:The respiratory epithelium is a polarised layer at the interface between the outside environment and deeper lung structures, overlaid by the epithelial lining fluid (ELF). This provides a mechanical and immunological barrier to inhaled particulates, such as viruses. Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is a major cause of disease in humans, and targets the respiratory epithelium. However, little is known of the disruption of the ELF proteome in the context of virus-driven respiratory illnesses. To address this, a proteomics approach was combined with an ex-vivo human airway epithelial model (HAE) to investigate the apical and basolateral secretome in hRSV-infected cultures. This demonstrated that several apically- and basolaterally-restricted proteins were subsequently secreted in both directions upon infection, while a number of proteins saw their apical/basolateral abundance ratios significantly altered. Furthermore, another 35 proteins were uniquely identified after hRSV treatment. Importantly, some of these changes were correlated in nasal aspirates (NA) from children with and without hRSV. This study showed that hRSV could affect airway secretions, and disrupted the directionality of the respiratory epithelium.
Project description:Expression data from airway brush biopsy samples, differentiated primary cultures of human airway epithelia, CaLu3 cultures at the air liquid interface, and primary cultures of human airway epithelia submerged in nutrient media Organotypic cultures of primary human airway epithelial cells have been used to investigate the morphology, ion and fluid transport, innate immunity, transcytosis, infection, inflammation, signaling, cilia and repair functions of this complex tissue. However, we do not know how close these cultures resemble the epithelia in vivo. In this study, we examine the genome-wide expression profile of human airway epithelial cells in vivo obtained from brush biopsies of the trachea and bronchus of healthy volunteers and compare it to the expression profile of primary cultures of human airway epithelia grown at the air-liquid interface. For comparison we also investigate the expression profile of Calu3 cells grown at the air-liquid interface and primary cultures of human airway epithelia submerged in nutrient media.
Project description:We report the application of RNA sequencing technology for high-throughput profiling of gene expression responses to human rhinovirus infection at 24 hours in air-liquid interface human airway epithelial cell cultures derived from 6 asthmatic and 6 non-asthmatic donors. RNA-seq analysis identified sets of genes associated with asthma specific viral responses. These genes are related to inflammatory pathways, epithelial remodeling and cilium assembly and function, including those described previously (e.g. CCL5, CXCL10 and CX3CL1), and novel ones that were identified for the first time in this study (e.g. CCRL1, CDHR3). We concluded that air liquid interface cultured human airway epithelial cells challenged with live HRV are a useful in vitro model for the study of rhinovirus induced asthma exacerbation, given that our findings are consistent with clinical data sets. Furthermore, our data suggest that abnormal airway epithelial structure and inflammatory signaling are important contributors to viral induced asthma exacerbation. Differentiated air-liquid interface cultured human airway epithelial cell mRNA profiles from 6 asthmatic and 6 non-asthmatic donors after 24 hour treatment with either HRV or vehicle control were generated by deep sequencing, using Illumina HiSeq 2000.
Project description:Expression data from airway brush biopsy samples, differentiated primary cultures of human airway epithelia, CaLu3 cultures at the air liquid interface, and primary cultures of human airway epithelia submerged in nutrient media Organotypic cultures of primary human airway epithelial cells have been used to investigate the morphology, ion and fluid transport, innate immunity, transcytosis, infection, inflammation, signaling, cilia and repair functions of this complex tissue. However, we do not know how close these cultures resemble the epithelia in vivo. In this study, we examine the genome-wide expression profile of human airway epithelial cells in vivo obtained from brush biopsies of the trachea and bronchus of healthy volunteers and compare it to the expression profile of primary cultures of human airway epithelia grown at the air-liquid interface. For comparison we also investigate the expression profile of Calu3 cells grown at the air-liquid interface and primary cultures of human airway epithelia submerged in nutrient media. We compare the transcriptional profile of human in vivo airway epithelia from trachea and bronchus to differentiated primary human airway epithelia cultures, also from trachea and bronchus, and grown at the air-liquid interface. We also included the profile of Calu3 cultures grown at the air-liquid interface and primary cultures submerged in nutrient media.