title: How reliable are sino-nasal cell lines for studying the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Well-characterized cell lines represent useful scientific tools to study the pathophysiology of human disease. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a very common condition, though the number of CRS cell lines is limited, as are data showing how closely they resemble primary cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Searches for available human cell lines were performed using the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC). Identified cells were cultured and characterized with tinctorial and immunohistochemical staining and ELISA to assess their response to common, disease-relevant inflammatory stimuli. Carefully phenotyped CRS patients were recruited with informed consent. Primary nasal epithelial cell (PNEC) brushings were harvested, cultured, and compared to the available cell lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Searches identified 1 relevant CRS sino-nasal cell line, RPMI 2650. Cultured PNECs showed strong expression of epithelial markers while being negative for mesenchymal markers. However, RPMI 2650 cells show an atypical mixed epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype. When stimulated by pro-inflammatory ligands, PNECs responded in a dose-dependent manner, whereas RPMI 2650 cells showed limited response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number and availability of cell lines to study the pathophysiology of CRS greatly underrepresent the disease burden. Additionally, the sole commercially available cell line appears to have a different phenotype and behavior to primary patient-derived cells. The development of further reproducible cell lines would be beneficial in our understanding of CRS.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Freeman Hospital Department of ENT Surgery, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK s.l.ball@ncl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Monika I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Suwara
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Lee A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Borthwick
authors.affiliation: Freeman Hospital Department of ENT Surgery, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Janet A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Derek A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: cell-line; primary cells; rhinitis; sinusitis