Development of physiological lung epithelial model

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26550046
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Environmental impact assessment
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Sakai Yasuyuki 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 教授 (00235128)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞・組織 / 生物・生体工学 / 環境 / 薬学 / 培養モデル / ナノ粒子 / 肺吸収

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Three in vitro pulmonary alveolus culture models were established. Our aim was to optimize existing human lung in vitro models to better mimic the in vivo　situation to study the nanoparticles toxicity and translocation study. Epithelial and endothelial cells were separately cultured on the opposite sides of the cell culture insert consisting of the polycarbonate microporous membrane to form　separate cell layers. This co-culture system is proved to be a novel pulmonary alveolus model that might be applied to evaluate the safety evaluation of drugs, chemicals and nanomaterials. Then primary epithelial cells were used in the second rat alveolar tissue model, which could be used to directly compare in vivo and in vitro conditions. Results likely indicate the formation of the rat primary culture model with high stability. This primary culture system is a novel pulmonary alveolus model and might be applied to evaluate the safety evaluation of drugs, chemicals and nanomaterials.

Free Research Field

生物化学工学，生体組織工学