M. Mogel et al., A NEW COCULTURE-SYSTEM OF BRONCHIAL EPITHELIAL AND ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS AS A MODEL FOR STUDYING OZONE EFFECTS ON AIRWAY TISSUE, Toxicology letters, 96-7, 1998, pp. 25-32
In order to study the inflammatory potential of ozone on the airway ti
ssue, we developed an in vitro model system in which human bronchial e
pithelial cells (BEAS 2B) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (
ECV304) were able to communicate with each other. The BEAS 2B cells we
re grown on filter supports which were inserted into six-well culture
dishes. Endothelial cells were cultivated on the bottom of the basolat
eral compartment. The upper epithelial cells were exposed to 0.15 ppm
ozone for 90 min. Supernatants were collected after 1, 4 and 24 h and
were quantified for IL-6 and IL-8 secretion. At the same time points w
e measured the expression of ICAM-1 on the umbilical vein endothelial
cells. Exposure of the coculture-system to air or ozone induced the pr
oduction of IL-6 as well as IL-8 that exceeded the sum of the amounts
produced by the two cell types when exposed separately. At 24 h after
ozone exposure the IL-6 and IL-8 levels were significantly elevated co
mpared with the air treated cells. Concerning the ICAM-1 expression on
ECV304 cells we found elevated ICAM-1 levels on cells which had been
cocultured with BEAS 2B cells compared with cells cultured alone. This
might be a hint for the secretion of a soluble factor that acts as a
mediator in amplifying the response of epithelial cells. (C) 1998 Else
vier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.