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Koziol-White C, Gebski E, Cao G, Panettieri RA. Precision cut lung slices: an integrated ex vivo model for studying lung physiology, pharmacology, disease pathogenesis and drug discovery. Respir Res 2024; 25:231. [PMID: 38824592 PMCID: PMC11144351 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-024-02855-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Precision Cut Lung Slices (PCLS) have emerged as a sophisticated and physiologically relevant ex vivo model for studying the intricacies of lung diseases, including fibrosis, injury, repair, and host defense mechanisms. This innovative methodology presents a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between traditional in vitro cell cultures and in vivo animal models, offering researchers a more accurate representation of the intricate microenvironment of the lung. PCLS require the precise sectioning of lung tissue to maintain its structural and functional integrity. These thin slices serve as invaluable tools for various research endeavors, particularly in the realm of airway diseases. By providing a controlled microenvironment, precision-cut lung slices empower researchers to dissect and comprehend the multifaceted interactions and responses within lung tissue, thereby advancing our understanding of pulmonary pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Koziol-White
- Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science, The State University of NJ, 08901, Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
| | - Eric Gebski
- Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science, The State University of NJ, 08901, Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Gaoyaun Cao
- Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science, The State University of NJ, 08901, Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Reynold A Panettieri
- Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science, The State University of NJ, 08901, Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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Calzetta L, Page C, Matera MG, Cazzola M, Rogliani P. Use of human airway smooth muscle in vitro and ex vivo to investigate drugs for the treatment of chronic obstructive respiratory disorders. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:610-639. [PMID: 37859567 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Isolated airway smooth muscle has been extensively investigated since 1840 to understand the pharmacology of airway diseases. There has often been poor predictability from murine experiments to drugs evaluated in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the use of isolated human airways represents a sensible strategy to optimise the development of innovative molecules for the treatment of respiratory diseases. This review aims to provide updated evidence on the current uses of isolated human airways in validated in vitro methods to investigate drugs in development for the treatment of chronic obstructive respiratory disorders. This review also provides historical notes on the pioneering pharmacological research on isolated human airway tissues, the key differences between human and animal airways, as well as the pivotal differences between human medium bronchi and small airways. Experiments carried out with isolated human bronchial tissues in vitro and ex vivo replicate many of the main anatomical, pathophysiological, mechanical and immunological characteristics of patients with asthma or COPD. In vitro models of asthma and COPD using isolated human airways can provide information that is directly translatable into humans with obstructive lung diseases. Regardless of the technique used to investigate drugs for the treatment of chronic obstructive respiratory disorders (i.e., isolated organ bath systems, videomicroscopy and wire myography), the most limiting factors to produce high-quality and repeatable data remain closely tied to the manual skills of the researcher conducting experiments and the availability of suitable tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigino Calzetta
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Respiratory Disease and Lung Function Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Clive Page
- Pulmonary Pharmacology Unit, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Gabriella Matera
- Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Cazzola
- Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Rogliani
- Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
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Lam M, Lamanna E, Organ L, Donovan C, Bourke JE. Perspectives on precision cut lung slices-powerful tools for investigation of mechanisms and therapeutic targets in lung diseases. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1162889. [PMID: 37261291 PMCID: PMC10228656 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1162889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Precision cut lung slices (PCLS) have emerged as powerful experimental tools for respiratory research. Pioneering studies using mouse PCLS to visualize intrapulmonary airway contractility have been extended to pulmonary arteries and for assessment of novel bronchodilators and vasodilators as therapeutics. Additional disease-relevant outcomes, including inflammatory, fibrotic, and regenerative responses, are now routinely measured in PCLS from multiple species, including humans. This review provides an overview of established and innovative uses of PCLS as an intermediary between cellular and organ-based studies and focuses on opportunities to increase their application to investigate mechanisms and therapeutic targets to oppose excessive airway contraction and fibrosis in lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie Lam
- Department of Pharmacology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Emma Lamanna
- Department of Pharmacology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Institut Pasteur, Unit of Antibodies in Therapy and Pathology, INSERM UMR1222, Paris, France
| | - Louise Organ
- Department of Pharmacology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Chantal Donovan
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute and The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Jane E. Bourke
- Department of Pharmacology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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