H. Wan et al., Tight junction properties of the immortalized human bronchial epithelial cell lines Calu-3 and 16HBE14o-, EUR RESP J, 15(6), 2000, pp. 1058-1068
Tight junctions (TJs) make a vital contribution to the barrier properties o
f the airway lining. Opening of TJs, or their frank cleavage, is suspected
as a pathophysiological event in the lung, but research into the cellular a
nd molecular mechanisms involved has been impeded by technical limitations
of available experimental models. The authors have compared the properties
of two epithelial cell lines derived from bronchial epithelium to explore w
hether these cell lines could constitute appropriate tools for the study of
TJ regulation in bronchial epithelium.
Investigations of TJs in 16HBE14o- cells and Calu-3 cells were made by fluo
rescent antibody labelling in conjunction with wide-field, confocal or 2-ph
oton molecular excitation microscopy (2PMEM). The presence of TJ proteins w
as confirmed by immunoblotting and functional properties of the monolayers
were studied by measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance and m
annitol permeability.
Cells of both lines formed confluent monolayers In which the cells expresse
d the TJ proteins occludin and ZO-1 in continuous circumferential patterns
suggestive of func tional TJs. This interpretation was supported by the dev
elopment of transepithelial electrical resistances and of low paracellular
permeability to solutes. Within the limits of resolution offered by 2PMEM,
occludin and ZO-1 appeared to colocalize at TJs.
These studies suggest that the 16HBE14o- cells and Calu3 cell lines are pot
entially useful in vitro models to study how tight junction opening or clea
vage changes the functional barrier properties of bronchial epithelium.