肠道病毒A71型致人扁桃体上皮细胞系UT-SCC-60B凋亡和S期阻滞的研究

肠道病毒A71型(Enterovirus A71,EV-A71)是手足口病的重要病原体,为研究EV-A71感染人扁桃体上皮细胞后对细胞凋亡和细胞周期的影响,确定ERK1/2、JNK1/2、PI3K/Akt和含半胱氨酸的天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶(Cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase,Caspase)的作用,本文以人扁桃体上皮细胞系UT-SCC-60B为细胞模型,CCK-8试剂盒检测EV-A71对UT-SCC-60B的抑制率、流式细胞仪检测EV-A71感染组和抑制剂处理组的凋亡和细胞周期、Caspase活力检测试剂盒测定Caspase-3,Caspase-8,Caspase-9活力。EV-A71以感染剂量和感染时间依赖方式抑制UT-SCC-60B增殖;EV-A71感染致UT-SCC-60B发生细胞凋亡,抑制ERK1/2、JNK1/2和PI3K/Akt能够降低UT-SCC-60B细胞凋亡比例;EV-A71感染UT-SCC-60B后发生S期阻滞,抑制ERK1/2、JNK1/2、PI3K/Akt和Caspase阻止UT-SCC-60B发生S期阻滞;EV-A71感染UT-SCC-60B能够活化Caspase-3,Caspase-8,Caspase-9且ERK1/2、JNK1/2和PI3K/Akt调控Caspase-3,Caspase-8,Caspase-9活力。因此,EV-A71能够导致人扁桃体上皮细胞UT-SCC-60B发生凋亡和S期阻滞,并且ERK1/2、JNK1/2、PI3K/Akt和Caspase参与凋亡和S期阻滞的调控。     

寒冷刺激支气管上皮细胞产生外泌体促肺成纤维细胞表达气道重塑相关因子北大核心CSCD

外泌体可由多种细胞分泌,是具有多种生物学功能的细胞外囊泡,但其在气道重塑中的作用尚不明确。为探讨经寒冷刺激的人支气管上皮细胞(BEAS-2B)分泌的外泌体对人胚肺成纤维细胞(HLF1)气道重塑相关因子表达的影响,收集BEAS-2B细胞株培养液提取外泌体,利用透射电镜及Western印迹对外泌体进行其大小、形态及标志性蛋白的检测;提取的外泌体与HLF1共同培育,分别设置空白对照组、正常对照组(加入未作干预的BEAS-2B细胞所产的外泌体)及寒冷刺激组(加入经寒冷刺激后的BEAS-2B细胞所产的外泌体)。运用Real-time PCR及Western印迹技术,分别检测各组HLF1表达FGF-2、TNF-α、MMP-9的mRNA及蛋白情况。结果显示,提取BEAS-2B细胞分泌的外泌体为直径小于100 nm的圆形或椭圆形结构,并表达外泌体标志性蛋白CD9、TSG101、ALIX;寒冷刺激组24 h后,其FGF-2、TNF-α、MMP-9的mRNA及蛋白表达均显著高于空白对照组及正常对照组(均P<0.05)。本研究结果表明,BEAS-2B细胞能够释放外泌体;经寒冷刺激后的BEAS-2B细胞所释放的外泌体可以携带并传递生物信号,诱导HLF1表达气道重塑相关因子。     

寒冷刺激支气管上皮细胞产生外泌体促肺成纤维细胞表达气道重塑相关因子

外泌体可由多种细胞分泌,是具有多种生物学功能的细胞外囊泡,但其在气道重塑中的作用尚不明确。为探讨经寒冷刺激的人支气管上皮细胞（BEAS-2B）分泌的外泌体对人胚肺成纤维细胞(HLF1)气道重塑相关因子表达的影响,收集BEAS-2B细胞株培养液提取外泌体,利用透射电镜及Western印迹对外泌体进行其大小、形态及标志性蛋白的检测;提取的外泌体与HLF1共同培育,分别设置空白对照组、正常对照组（加入未作干预的BEAS 2B细胞所产的外泌体）及寒冷刺激组（加入经寒冷刺激后的BEAS-2B细胞所产的外泌体）。运用Real-time-PCR及Western印迹技术,分别检测各组HLF1表达FGF-2、TNF-α、MMP-9的mRNA及蛋白情况。结果显示,提取BEAS-2B细胞分泌的外泌体为直径小于100 nm的圆形或椭圆形结构,并表达外泌体标志性蛋白CD9、TSG101、ALIX;寒冷刺激组24 h后,其FGF-2、TNF-α、MMP-9的mRNA及蛋白表达均显著高于空白对照组及正常对照组（均P<0.05）。本研究结果表明,BEAS-2B细胞能够释放外泌体;经寒冷刺激后的BEAS 2B细胞所释放的外泌体可以携带并传递生物信号,诱导HLF1表达气道重塑相关因子。     

X盒子结合蛋白1对肾小管上皮细胞脂质代谢的影响研究

目的明确拼接型和非拼接型X盒子结合蛋白1对肾小管上皮细胞脂质代谢的影响。方法体外培养人肾小管上皮细胞,采用脂质体2000转染拼接型和非拼接型XBP-1质粒,培养48h后,免疫细胞化学和Western blot检测XBP-1表达,反转录PCR检测脂肪酸合成酶和乙酰辅酶A羧化酶mRNA表达,免疫细胞化学检测脂肪分化相关蛋白表达,油红O检测细胞内脂滴。结果 HKC细胞转染XBP-1拼接型和非拼接型质粒48h后,免疫细胞化学和Western blot证实XBP-1蛋白均明显升高。而拼接型XBP-1质粒转染上调了FASN和ACC mRNA表达,细胞内ADRP表达升高,细胞内脂滴增多。非拼接型XBP-1质粒对FASN、ACC mRNA,ADRP和细胞内脂滴未产生影响。结论拼接型XBP-1上调可导致肾小管上皮细胞脂质代谢关键酶升高和细胞内脂质沉积,可能是多种肾脏脂质沉积疾病的调控因子之一。     

高表达trip-1蛋白对大鼠肾小管上皮细胞转分化的影响

目的:研究上调大鼠肾小管上皮细胞中trip-1蛋白的表达量对TGF-β1诱导的上皮细胞转分化的影响.方法:包装人TRIP-1基因重组腺病毒,用其感染NRK52E细胞36h上调内源性trip-1蛋白表达量,之后用10 ng/ml的TGF-β1对细胞进行刺激诱导,72h后做Western Blot检测细胞中E-cadherin蛋白和α-SMA蛋白表达量.结果:①包装的人TRIP-1基因重组腺病毒感染细胞能够有效上调细胞中trip-1蛋白的表达量.②上调细胞中trip-1蛋白表达量,对TGF-β1引起的NRK52E细胞中E-cadherin蛋白表达水平降低有所抑制,但对TGF-β1引起的NRK52E细胞中α-SMA蛋白表达水平升高没有明显调节作用.结论:上调大鼠肾小管上皮细胞中trip-1蛋白的表达量在一定程度上抑制了TGF-β1诱导的NRK52E细胞转分化.     

呼吸道合胞病毒感染不同气道上皮细胞的病变特点及易感性分析

为了比较几种不同气道上皮细胞对呼吸道合胞病毒（Respiratory syncytial virus,RSV）感染后病变特点及易感性。采用RSV A2株感染Hep-2、A549、16HBE、BEAS-2B细胞后,奥林巴斯倒置免疫荧光显微镜观察细胞病变效应,免疫荧光检测RSV N蛋白表达及空斑实验测定细胞培养上清液中病毒滴度。结果显示RSV A2株感染Hep-2细胞后最早形成典型的合胞病变,A549细胞次之,16HBE及BEAS-2B形成病变的时间最晚。免疫荧光检测到RSV N蛋白表达特点与细胞病变特点一致。RSV A2在Hep-2上产生的病毒滴度最高,A549细胞次之,在16HBE上产生的病毒滴度最低。提示Hep-2、A549细胞对RSV具有高度易感性,以Hep-2最为敏感。而16HBE、BEAS-2B细胞对RSV感染不敏感,其中16HBE最不敏感。本研究可为选择合适的上皮细胞进行RSV相关研究奠定基础。     

MEK/ERK信号通路对人结膜上皮细胞增殖的影响及其机制研究

目的:探讨MEK/ERK信号通路对人结膜上皮细胞增殖的影响及其可能的机制。方法:采用不同浓度(0、12.5、25、50、100μmol/L)的MEK抑制剂PD98059处理人结膜上皮细胞(HConEpiC),通过CCK-8法检测不同浓度PD98059作用不同时间(0、12、24、48 h)对人结膜上皮细胞增殖的影响,Western blot检测不同浓度PD98059对人结膜上皮细胞ERK1/2、P-ERK1/2表达的影响。结果:相比对照组(0μmol/L),不同浓度(12.5、25、50、100μmol/L)PD98059处理后的人结膜上皮细胞增殖率明显下降,呈剂量-效应关系,且随处理时间增加(12、24、48 h)其抑制作用也显著增强,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。不同浓度PD98059处理人结膜上皮细胞24 h后,其ERK及p-ERK1/2表达随处理浓度增加而降低,与对照组(0μmol/L)相比差异有统计学意义(P0.05),且二者表达量与细胞增值抑制率均呈显著负相关(r=-0.995、r=-0.968,P0.05)。结论:PD98059可抑制人结膜上皮细胞增殖,这可能与其下调ERK表达和减少其活化有关。     

PD-1通过抑制糖酵解,促进脂质裂解和脂肪酸氧化改变T细胞代谢重编码

<正>外周免疫耐受对维持免疫系统稳态至关重要。PD-1(CD279)及其配体,PD-L1(B7-H1;CD74)和PD-L2(B7-DC;CD273),参与外周免疫耐受的调控。T细胞激活伴随代谢重编码,并影响细胞发挥不同的效应功能。本文作者发现,PD-1信号可以抑制激活T细胞上调有氧糖酵解以及氨基酸代谢,增加细胞脂肪酸β氧化。PD-1通过上调CPT1A促进内源性脂质的氧化,通过增加ATGL诱导脂质裂解。同为共抑制分子,CTLA-4则在抑制糖酵解同时却不改变脂肪酸氧化,提示CTLA-4将细胞维持在非激活的代谢状态。作者发现了PD-1介导的抑制效应性T细胞分化的代谢机制--抑     

采用TOPOTA克隆技术构建人CC10质粒并在BEAS-2B细胞中的表达

目的:采用TOPO TA克隆技术构建及鉴定人CC10基因表达载体,并在支气管上皮细胞系BEAS-2B细胞中获得稳定表达,初步探讨CC10在呼吸道上皮细胞炎症反应中的作用。方法:提取人下鼻甲组织的总RNA,逆转录反应生成c DNA,再用PCR方法扩增出含人CC10编码区全长的DNA片段,将PCR产物直接连接到pc DNA3.1/V5-His TOPO TA载体中,转化至大肠杆菌后经筛选鉴定出CC10表达载体,用脂质体法将CC10质粒转染到BEAS-2B,细胞免疫荧光法检测CC10蛋白的表达。随后用促炎细胞因子IL-1β刺激转染空质粒和CC10质粒的BEAS-2B细胞,用实时定量RT-PCR和ELISA检测炎性趋化因子RANTES m RNA和蛋白的表达。结果:目的基因与TOPO TA载体在室温下5 min的连接反应效率91.7%,用酶切法鉴定质粒并测序,人CC10基因成功克隆到真核细胞表达载体pc DNA3.1中,CC10蛋白在BEAS-2B细胞中无表达,但在体外转染CC10质粒后CC10蛋白表达明显增高。转染CC10质粒的BEAS-2B细胞可抑制IL-1β诱导的RANTES m RNA和蛋白的表达。结论:利用TOPO TA克隆技术可高效、快速的构建人CC10基因表达载体,并能够在BEAS-2B细胞中获得稳定表达,CC10蛋白在呼吸道上皮细胞中可发挥抗炎作用。     

乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原对细胞脂质合成作用的研究

乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)合成的蛋白调节细胞脂质代谢的研究不断被报道,但乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原(hepatitis B virus surface antigen,HBsAg)与脂质代谢的相互调控研究较少,且机制尚不明确。本研究通过对细胞转录组学的分析,揭示HBsAg对脂质代谢的调控机制。选用稳定表达HBsAg的细胞系HepG2-S-G2与其对照细胞系HepG2-neo-F4进行转录组学分析。利用定量聚合酶链反应(polymerase chain reaction,PCR)、蛋白质印迹法(Western blot,WB)分别检测重要差异基因OXCT1和CYP4F3在mRNA水平和蛋白水平的表达差异。为验证HBsAg促进脂质合成上调的表型,对两种细胞系进行油红O染色并检测细胞脂肪酸、总胆固醇水平。进一步对稳定转染HBV的细胞系HepG2.2.15进行降脂处理,以观察细胞上清液中HBsAg与脂质合成之间是否存在相互调控。结果显示,参与脂质代谢的差异基因发生显著变化,提示HBsAg引起了宿主细胞脂质合成途径的上调和消耗途径下调。定量PCR结果显示,相对于HepG2-neo-F4细胞,HepG2-S-G2细胞的3-酮酸辅酶A转移酶1(3-oxoacid CoA-transferase 1,OXCT1)mRNA水平升高约9倍,与转录组测序结果基本一致;CYP4F3基因在HepG2-S-G2细胞中转录相对下调。 WB结果显示,OXCT1和CYP4F3蛋白表达均出现相应的显著上调或下调,并且趋势与转录组分析一致。油红O染色以及细胞脂肪酸、总胆固醇水平检测结果证实HepG2-S-G2细胞中脂滴更明显,且游离脂肪酸和总胆固醇均显著升高。降脂处理结果显示细胞上清液中HBsAg显著降低。上述结果表明,HBsAg可上调脂质代谢、促进脂质合成,提示降脂可能成为抑制HBsAg的潜在有效途径。     

Henipavirus Pathogenesis in Human Respiratory Epithelial Cells

Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV) are deadly zoonotic viruses for which no vaccines or therapeutics are licensed for human use. Henipavirus infection causes severe respiratory illness and encephalitis. Although the exact route of transmission in human is unknown, epidemiological studies and in vivo studies suggest that the respiratory tract is important for virus replication. However, the target cells in the respiratory tract are unknown, as are the mechanisms by which henipaviruses can cause disease. In this study, we characterized henipavirus pathogenesis using primary cells derived from the human respiratory tract. The growth kinetics of NiV-Malaysia, NiV-Bangladesh, and HeV were determined in bronchial/tracheal epithelial cells (NHBE) and small airway epithelial cells (SAEC). In addition, host responses to infection were assessed by gene expression analysis and immunoassays. Viruses replicated efficiently in both cell types and induced large syncytia. The host response to henipavirus infection in NHBE and SAEC highlighted a difference in the inflammatory response between HeV and NiV strains as well as intrinsic differences in the ability to mount an inflammatory response between NHBE and SAEC. These responses were highest during HeV infection in SAEC, as characterized by the levels of key cytokines (interleukin 6 [IL-6], IL-8, IL-1α, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 [MCP-1], and colony-stimulating factors) responsible for immune cell recruitment. Finally, we identified virus strain-dependent variability in type I interferon antagonism in NHBE and SAEC: NiV-Malaysia counteracted this pathway more efficiently than NiV-Bangladesh and HeV. These results provide crucial new information in the understanding of henipavirus pathogenesis in the human respiratory tract at an early stage of infection.     

Primary Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Grown from Explants

Human bronchial epithelial cells are needed for cell models of disease and to investigate the effect of excipients and pharmacologic agents on the function and structure of human epithelial cells. Here we describe in detail the method of growing bronchial epithelial cells from bronchial airway tissue that is harvested by the surgeon at the times of lung surgery (e.g. lung cancer or lung volume reduction surgery). With ethics approval and informed consent, the surgeon takes what is needed for pathology and provides us with a bronchial portion that is remote from the diseased areas. The tissue is then used as a source of explants that can be used for growing primary bronchial epithelial cells in culture. Bronchial segments about 0.5-1cm long and ≤1cm in diameter are rinsed with cold EBSS and excess parenchymal tissue is removed. Segments are cut open and minced into 2-3mm³ pieces of tissue. The pieces are used as a source of primary cells. After coating 100mm culture plates for 1-2 hr with a combination of collagen (30 μg/ml), fibronectin (10 μg/ml), and BSA (10 μg/ml), the plates are scratched in 4-5 areas and tissue pieces are placed in the scratched areas, then culture medium (DMEM/Ham F-12 with additives) suitable for epithelial cell growth is added and plates are placed in an incubator at 37°C in 5% CO₂ humidified air. The culture medium is changed every 3-4 days. The epithelial cells grow from the pieces forming about 1.5 cm diameter rings in 3-4 weeks. Explants can be re-used up to 6 times by moving them into new pre-coated plates. Cells are lifted using trypsin/EDTA, pooled, counted, and re-plated in T75 Cell Bind flasks to increase their numbers. T75 flasks seeded with 2-3 million cells grow to 80% confluence in 4 weeks. Expanded primary human epithelial cells can be cultured and allowed to differentiate on air-liquid interface. Methods described here provide an abundant source of human bronchial epithelial cells from freshly isolated tissues and allow for studying these cells as models of disease and for pharmacology and toxicology screening.Download video file.^{(144M, mp4)}     

原子力显微镜对人羊膜上皮细胞的观察

目的:在单细胞水平上分析人羊膜上皮细胞的超微结构及其机械性能(粘弹力、杨氏模量、硬度等),为进一步认识细胞结构与功能的关系奠定基础.方法:应用原子力显微镜(AFM)高分辨率、高灵敏度的特点,对人的羊膜上皮细胞进行观察.结果:人羊膜上皮细胞呈椭圆形,由原子力显微镜力位移曲线测量系统,可得粘弹力:1034.375±294.21 pN.硬度:1.1815±0.326mN/m,杨氏模量:16.44±4.67Kpa.结论:AFM能对人羊膜上皮细胞表面超微结构清晰地成像及提供更多更确切的表面信息及机械性能,从而增加对羊膜上皮细胞的认识.     

体外培养的人牙胚上皮细胞的成釉分化

人表皮干细胞可以作为牙齿再生中上皮源性的种子细胞,但是其成釉分化的效率低下. 本研究分离培养了人牙胚上皮细胞,利用E13.5的小鼠牙间充质与其重组,构建重组牙胚,对其成釉分化的潜能和机制进行研究. 研究结果发现,体外培养的P1代人牙胚上皮细胞成釉率高达50%. 随着传代次数的增加,成釉率明显下降. 通过对牙上皮发育分化相关基因的表达检测和分析表明,重组牙胚成牙分化能力和成釉潜能的下降与牙上皮发育相关基因的表达状态密切相关. 特别是FGF8表达水平的下调以及PITX2不同亚型在人牙胚细胞中表达量的不均衡,可能是导致人牙胚细胞成釉潜能下降并丧失的主要原因. 本研究结果为理解牙齿再生过程中上皮源性的种子细胞的成釉机制提供了新的实验数据,对进一步提高表皮干细胞在牙齿再生过程中的成釉率有指导意义.     

Isolation of Myeloid Dendritic Cells and Epithelial Cells from Human Thymus

In this protocol we provide a method to isolate dendritic cells (DC) and epithelial cells (TEC) from the human thymus. DC and TEC are the major antigen presenting cell (APC) types found in a normal thymus and it is well established that they play distinct roles during thymic selection. These cells are localized in distinct microenvironments in the thymus and each APC type makes up only a minor population of cells. To further understand the biology of these cell types, characterization of these cell populations is highly desirable but due to their low frequency, isolation of any of these cell types requires an efficient and reproducible procedure. This protocol details a method to obtain cells suitable for characterization of diverse cellular properties. Thymic tissue is mechanically disrupted and after different steps of enzymatic digestion, the resulting cell suspension is enriched using a Percoll density centrifugation step. For isolation of myeloid DC (CD11c⁺), cells from the low-density fraction (LDF) are immunoselected by magnetic cell sorting. Enrichment of TEC populations (mTEC, cTEC) is achieved by depletion of hematopoietic (CD45^hi) cells from the low-density Percoll cell fraction allowing their subsequent isolation via fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) using specific cell markers. The isolated cells can be used for different downstream applications.     

Nicotine-Induced Apoptosis in Human Renal Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells

Background

Nicotine is, to a large extent, responsible for smoking-mediated renal dysfunction. This study investigated nicotine’s effects on renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis in vitro and it explored the mechanisms underlying its effects.

Methods

Human proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells were treated with nicotine. Cell viability was examined by using the WST-1 assay. Intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) proteins were determined. The messenger ribonucleic acid and the protein expression associated with the nicotine acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in HK-2 cells was examined, and apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry, cell cycle analysis, and immunoblot analysis.

Results

The HK-2 cells were endowed with nAChRs. Nicotine treatment reduced cell viability dose dependently, increased ROS levels, and increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK expression. Nicotine increased NF-κB activation, which was attenuated by N-acetyl-L-cysteine, and ERK and JNK inhibitors, but was not affected by a p38 MAPK inhibitor. Nicotine increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, which was attenuated by N-acetyl-L-cysteine, the NF-κB inhibitor, Bay 11–7082, and hexamethonium, a non-specific nAChR blocker. Flow cytometry revealed nicotine-induced G2/M phase arrest. While nicotine treatment increased the expression of phosphorylated cdc2 and histone H3, a marker of G2/M phase arrest, hexamethonium and Bay 11–7082 pretreatment reduced their expression.

Conclusions

Nicotine caused apoptosis in HK-2 cells by inducing ROS generation that activated the NF-κB signaling pathway via the MAPK pathway and it arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phase. Nicotine-induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells involves the nAChRs.     

高浓度葡萄糖诱导人晶状体上皮细胞发生EMT

目的:观察高浓度葡萄糖诱导人晶状体上皮细胞发生上皮-间质转分化(epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition,EMT)。方法:将人晶状体上皮细胞HLE-B3系分别培养在正常葡萄糖浓度(5.5 mmol/L)DMEM培养基和高浓度葡萄糖(35.5 mmol/L)的DMEM培养基中24小时,于培养的0 h、3 h、6 h、12 h、24 h在倒置显微镜下观察细胞形态学变化,采用免疫荧光染色检测晶状体上皮细胞中EMT相关蛋白E-cadherin及α-SMA的表达变化。结果:与正常糖浓度组相比,随着时间的延长高糖组细胞逐渐丢失上皮细胞形态,细胞变细、变长,向纤维细胞的形态转变;同时随着时间的延长,高糖组晶状体上皮细胞中E-cadherin染色的荧光强度在各时间点均低于正常糖浓度组,而α-SMA的荧光强度却明显高于正常糖浓度组,在6 h和12 h时差异显著,有统计学意义(P0.01)。结论:高浓度葡萄糖诱导人晶状体上皮细胞发生上皮-间质转分化。     

Volume-Activated Chloride Currents in Fetal Human Nasopharyngeal Epithelial Cells

Volume-activated chloride channels have been studied by us extensively in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. However, the chloride channels in the counterpart of the carcinoma cells have not been investigated. In this study, volume-activated chloride currents (I_cl,vol) were characterized in normal fetal human nasopharyngeal epithelial cells using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Under isotonic conditions, nasopharyngeal epithelial cells displayed only a weak background current. Exposure to 47% hypotonic solution activated a volume-sensitive current. The reversal potential of the current was close to the calculated equilibrium potential for Cl⁻. The peak values of the hypotonicity-activated current at +80 mV ranged from 0.82 to 2.71 nA in 23 cells. Further analysis indicated that the density of the hypotonicity-activated current in most cells (18/23) was smaller than 60 pA/pF. Only five cells presented a current larger than 60 pA/pF. The hypotonicity-activated current was independent of the exogenous ATP. Chloride channel inhibitors ATP, tamoxifen and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB), inhibited the current dramatically. The anion permeability of the hypotonicity-activated chloride channels was I⁻ > Br⁻ > Cl⁻ > gluconate. Unexpectedly, in isotonic conditions, ATP (10 mM) activated an inward-rectified current, which had not been observed in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. These results suggest that, under hypotonic challenges, fetal human nasopharyngeal epithelial cells can produce I_cl,vol, which might be involved in cell volume regulation.     

Infection and Propagation of Human Rhinovirus C in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

Human rhinovirus species C (HRV-C) was recently discovered using molecular diagnostic techniques and is associated with lower respiratory tract disease, particularly in children. HRV-C cannot be propagated in immortalized cell lines, and currently sinus organ culture is the only system described that is permissive to HRV-C infection ex vivo. However, the utility of organ culture for studying HRV-C biology is limited. Here, we report that a previously described HRV-C derived from an infectious cDNA, HRV-C15, infects and propagates in fully differentiated human airway epithelial cells but not in undifferentiated cells. We demonstrate that this differentiated epithelial cell culture system supports infection and replication of a second virus generated from a cDNA clone, HRV-C11. We show that HRV-C15 virions preferentially bind fully differentiated airway epithelial cells, suggesting that the block to replication in undifferentiated cells is at the step of viral entry. Consistent with previous reports, HRV-C15 utilizes a cellular receptor other than ICAM-1 or LDLR for infection of differentiated epithelial cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that HRV-C15 replication can be inhibited by an HRV 3C protease inhibitor (rupintrivir) but not an HRV capsid inhibitor previously under clinical development (pleconaril). The HRV-C cell culture system described here provides a powerful tool for studying the biology of HRV-C and the discovery and development of HRV-C inhibitors.