Prolonged airway explant culture enables study of health, disease, and viral pathogenesis

• DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.03.578756
• Publication Date: 2024-02-06T01:25:30Z
• Authors: Rhianna E Lee-Ferris; Kenichi Okuda; Jacob R Galiger; Stephen A Schworer; Troy D Rogers; Hong Dang; Rodney Gilmore; Caitlin Edwards; Satoko Nakano; Anne M. Cawley; Raymond J Pickles; Samuel C Gallant; Elisa Crisci; Lauraine Rivier; James S Hagood; Wanda K O’Neal; Ralph S Baric; Barbara R Grubb; Richard C Boucher; Scott H Randell
• Keywords: Pathogenesis

Abstract In vitro models play a major role in studying airway physiology and disease. However, the native lung’s complex tissue architecture non-epithelial cell lineages are not preserved these models. Ex vivo could overcome limitations, but methods for long-term maintenance of ex has been established. We describe to culture human large explants, small precision-cut lung slices at least 14 days. Human explants recapitulate genotype-specific electrophysiology, characteristic epithelial, endothelial, stromal immune populations, model viral infection after days culture. These also maintain mouse, rabbit, pig tracheal explants. Notably, intact can be cryopreserved, thawed, used generate with recovery function post-thaw. studies highlight broad applications their use as translational intermediates between studies.