Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Collection, Expansion, and Differentiation of Primary Human Nasal Epithelial Cell Models for Quantification of Cilia Beat Frequency
Published on: November 10, 2021
Culture of cells harvested with nasal brushing: a method for evaluating ciliary function
Elina Toskala1, Juhani Haataja, Hideaki Shirasaki
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. elina.toskala-hannikainen@ttl.fi
Objectives:
Usefulness and reliability of nasal brush samples in a monolayer cell culture was studied for evaluation of ciliary movement.
Methods:
Cells for cultures were harvested under the middle turbinate from patients with chronic sinusitis and from controls. Ciliary function was analysed using a microscope equipped with a high-speed video camera. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF), ciliary amplitude, waveform and coordination were analysed from the cultures 4-6 h after the harvest of brush samples and 3 days after the culture.
Results:
The average success rate of cell cultures was 82.5%. There were not statistically significant differences in CBF between patients and controls but there was significant difference between brush biopsy and cultured brush biopsy in controls. The ciliary beat amplitude and the waveform were normal in all samples in both groups.
Conclusions:
Miniculture method for culturing nasal cells from brush biopsies proved reliable and non-invasive for detailed analysing of ciliary function and for excluding possible secondary ciliary dyskinesia. Compared to conventional mucosal cell cultures where thick and invasive specimens are needed for successful cultures, it is easier and quicker to perform and well tolerated by patients. Thin monolayer cultures enable the evaluation of frequency, amplitude and the waveform of the cilia beat under the microscope whereas floating cells and cell clusters do not give this opportunity.
