title: Ciliogenesis and mucus synthesis in cultured human respiratory epithelial cells.
abstract: The mechanisms for the regulation of ciliogenesis and for the synthesis of mucus are not well understood. We sought to develop a culture system for differentiating ciliated and secretory types of human respiratory epithelial (HRE) cells. Dissociated HRE cells obtained from nasal polyps and maxillary sinus mucosa were cultured on type I collagen gel. Cells grown to confluence on collagen gel lost their cilia and exhibited a flat, squamous-like appearance. After reaching confluence, the cultured cells with a collagen gel substrate were removed from plastic dishes and floated in the culture medium. After 7 days in the floating culture, some cells exhibited several centrioles or basal bodies, while others showed secretory granules. The secretory phenotype predominated after 7 days. After 14 days in the floating culture, nearly all cells were ciliated. The results demonstrate that the differentiation of HRE cells can be induced by floating cultured cells with a collagen gel substrate in a defined culture medium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Kagoshima University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hanamure
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohyama
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007633:Keratins