Primary human nasal, nasopharyngeal, and bronchial epithelia show distinct immune responses to various pathogens.

ABSTRACT: The respiratory epithelium serves as initial defense against airborne pathogens through its barrier function and induction of immune responses. To study epithelial-pathogen interactions, we used primary epithelial models that closely resembled the epithelia of the airways, for which we collected nasal (n = 7), nasopharyngeal (n = 3), and bronchial (n = 4) epithelial cells from different donors. We cultured these epithelial cells on an air-liquid interface and evaluated their differentiation status. To assess how the different epithelial models respond to distinct types of exposures, the cells were stimulated with IFN-γ, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for 72 h. The nasopharyngeal epithelium was distinct from nasal and bronchial cells w

SUBMITTER: van Woudenbergh E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12526045 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature