Background: Careful analysis of cellular function and differentiation in the human bronchial
epithelium is important to understand, treat and prevent disease patterns that characterize
chronic lung diseases (CLD, including chronic obstructive lung disease/COPD). To enable
the translational research in thoracic surgery, close collaboration between surgical
departments and associated laboratories is warranted. A highly standardized long-term
culture approach based on primary human bronchial epithelial cells (pHBECs) from non-CLD
and end-stage COPD patients was recently developed in our laboratory (Stoleriu et
al.,Thorax 2024). To physiologically mimic the native microenvironment of the bronchial
epithelium further adaptations of primary cell culture are needed.
Methods: Over 200 human bronchial tissue samples from CLD patients upon lung transplantation
at the Thoracic Surgery Division of the LMU Hospital Munich between 01.2018-09.2024
were processed at the CPC-M bioArchive, the LMU Hospital, the Asklepios Clinic Gauting
and the Institute for Lung Health and Immunity Munich. Long-term pHBECs cultures isolated
from n=4 (each) non-CLD, COPD-II and IV patients at air-liquid-interface were used
for comprehensive cell characterization and culture validation on a novel transwell
system.
Results: Single cell RNA-seq analysis of pHBECs from non-CLD and COPD-IV patients revealed
a novel basal cell population that could drive the hypersecretory phenotype in end-stage
COPD derived cultures. The basal cell state was characterized by overrepresentation
of Wnt and Notch canonical airway pathways involved in secretory and multi-ciliated
cell differentiation. After successful long-term pHBECs culture on conventional silicone-based
membrane transwells, a novel culture system based on elastic-porous convex transwell
membranes was developed to improve cell differentiation, mimic physiological primary
cell cultures and facilitate a reliable measurement of transcellular drug transport.
Conclusion: The collaboration between thoracic surgery and respective scientific laboratories
is able to update knowledge about the cellular landscape of the human bronchial epithelium
and of the lung cell atlas, thus contributing to a better disease understanding in
COPD patients driving therapeutic ideas.