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

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

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Science Advances
Published
2025-04-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adp0451
Citations
5
Primary Topic
Respiratory viral infections research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
6.77
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

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

Kenichi Okuda, Richard C. Boucher, Satoko Nakano, Raymond J. Pickles et al.
5 citations
Science Advances
Respiratory viral infections research
6.77
article

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

Kenichi Okuda, Richard C. Boucher, Satoko Nakano, Raymond J. Pickles, Stephen A. Schworer, Ralph Steven Baric, James S. Hagood, Gillian Crisp, Elisa Crisci, Anne M. Cawley, Barbara R. Grubb, Troy D. Rogers, Hong Dang, Rhianna E. Lee, Scott H. Randell, Wanda K. O’Neal, Rodney C. Gilmore, Caitlin E. Edwards, Lauraine Rivier, Samuel C. Gallant, Jacob R. Galiger
article en
5 citations

Abstract

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

Science AdvancesVol. 11(17)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US), North Carolina State University (US), Lung Institute (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 3%
Respiratory viral infections research
6.77
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.