title: Feasibility of nasal epithelial brushing for the study of airway epithelial functions in CF infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For a better understanding of the early stages of cystic fibrosis (CF), it is of major interest to study respiratory epithelial cells obtained as early as possible. Although bronchoalveolar lavage has been proposed for this purpose, nasal brushing, which is a much less invasive technique, has seldom been used in CF infants. The aim of the present study was to examine in a few infants the feasibility of a nasal brushing technique for studies of airway epithelial functions in very young CF infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 5 CF (median age 12, range 1-18 months) and 10 control infants (median age 5, range 1-17 months), a nasal brushing was performed by means of a soft sterile cytology brush, after premedication with oral paracetamol (15 mg/kg body weight) and rectal midazolam (0.2 mg/kg body weight). Samples were used for microbiological, cytological and functional studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure was well tolerated. Number of cells collected was similar in CF and non-CF patients (CF: median 230x10(3), range 42x10(3)-900x10(3); non-CF: median 340x10(3), range 140x10(3)-900x10(3)). Median number of viable cells was 67% (range 31-84%). Freshly obtained samples were successfully used for studies of ciliary beating frequency and cAMP-dependent chloride efflux. In 7 out of 17 cell cultures, confluence was obtained (CF: 2 out of 7; non-CF: 5 out of 10). The feasibility of studying protein release and mRNA expression of IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, under basal conditions and after stimulation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By means of a simple nasal brushing technique easily performed and well tolerated, it is feasible, in infants, to harvest respiratory cells in sufficient amounts to study the airway epithelium using a broad range of techniques including cell culture.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U514, Reims, F-51092, France.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mosler
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coraux
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fragaki
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zahm
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bajolet
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bessaci-Kabouya
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puchelle
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abély
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mauran
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*