GELATIN SPONGE-SUPPORTED HISTOCULTURE OF HUMAN NASAL-MUCOSA

Considerable progress has recently been made in the understanding of a irway inflammation by cell culture assays and in vivo provocation stud ies. Inasmuch as ethical considerations limit experimental work in hum ans, physiologically relevant in vitro models are required to better u nderstand cellular and molecular tissue interactions in human nasal mu cosa. Here we describe a human nasal mucosa culture model utilizing a simple gelatin sponge-supported histoculture system at the air-liquid interface. Viable mucosa was preserved for at least 48 h, as shown by morphology and immunohistochemical staining with Ki-67 as marker for p roliferation. Pro-inflammatory mediators (kinins, histamine, thromboxa ne B-2, prostaglandin F-2 alpha, and substance P) are detectable in se rum-containing as well as serum-free culture medium. Incubation with 1 0(-8) M substance P increases the number of degranulated mast cells af ter 48 h by 26% (P < 0.01). In this model, biochemical responses can b e correlated with histologic alterations of the target tissue. Inflamm atory parameters can be examined and compared in various patient group s and different stimulators/inhibitors. This culture method provides a valuable research tool for analyzing all compartments present in nasa l mucosa under physiologically relevant conditions, and for studying c omplex interactions and responses of mucosal cell populations in their natural tissue environment.