1B). Based
on these TEER values, RL-65 cell layers were further characterised at the AL interface after 8 days in SFM and 8 and 21 days in SCM. Immunocytochemistry experiment on RL-65 layers cultured at the AL interface for 8 days in both media showed a positive staining for the zo-1 protein along the cell perimeter, in agreement with the location of tight junction proteins (Fig. 2). 14C-mannitol permeability studies resulted in Papp values ranging from 0.54 ± 0.11 to 3.09 ± 0.36 × 10−6 cm/s, depending on the conditions and length in culture ( Table 1). Those were in the same Selleck Lumacaftor range as in-house and published Papp obtained in existing human bronchial epithelial cell culture models ( Table 1). After 8 days at an AL interface, 14C-mannitol Papp values were significantly lower in RL-65 layers grown in SCM than in layers maintained in SFM, in agreement with the higher TEER achieved in SCM. As previously reported for the Calu-3 and 16HBE14o- cell lines ( Forbes et al., 2003 and Sakagami, 2006), a strong inverse correlation (R = 0.9658) with power regression was indeed found between TEER and 14C-mannitol Papp
values in RL-65 layers ( Fig. 3). The morphology of RL-65 layers was characterised using histological and SEM examinations. Cross-sections of RL-65 cell layers cultured in SFM for 8 days depicted Selleck Ibrutinib 2–3 layers of cuboidal cells similar to that observed for sections of NHBE cells maintained at an AL interface for 21 days (Fig. 4A and D). In contrast, RL-65 cells cultured in SCM for 8 days formed a viable layer 1–3 cells thick adjacent to the filter underneath a ∼5 μm thick layer of pink/purple eosin stained
material containing no viable cells (Fig. 4B). After 21 days, the non-viable apical substance had extended to a ∼30 μm thick stratum and viable RL-65 cells formed a flatter single layer adjacent to the filter (Fig. 4C). Alcian blue staining failed to show the presence of mucopolysaccharides at the surface of RL-65 cell layers while positive staining was observed apically in Calu-3 and NHBE cell layers (data not shown). SEM images of the RL-65 apical surface revealed a heterogeneous cell population (Fig. 5A). At closer magnification, small cylindrical appendages, ∼2 μm in length and <0.5 μm in diameter GBA3 were observed protruding from the apical cell surface of RL-65 cells cultured in SFM, suggesting the presence of microvilli or immature cilia (Fig. 5B). This assumption was supported by a localised positive immunohistochemical staining for the cilia marker β-tubulin at the surface of the layers (Fig. 5C). Gene expression analysis of selected transporters revealed similar relative mRNA levels in RL-65 cells cultured for 8 days in either SFM or SCM. Expression levels were negligible (<0.001) for abcb1a (mdr1a), abcc2 (mrp2), slc22a1-3 (oct1-3) whilst a low (0.001–0.02) or moderate (0.02–0.