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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Culture and Imaging of Human Nasal Epithelial Organoids
Published on: December 17, 2021
Feasibility of nasal epithelial brushing for the study of airway epithelial functions in CF infants
Katharina Mosler1, Christelle Coraux, Konstantina Fragaki
1INSERM, U514, Reims, F-51092, France.
Insights
Nasal brushing is a safe and effective method for collecting respiratory cells from infants with cystic fibrosis (CF). This technique allows for comprehensive studies of airway epithelium function in early CF stages.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Cell Biology
- Genetics and Genomics
Background:
- Early detection and understanding of cystic fibrosis (CF) necessitate studying respiratory epithelial cells from infants.
- Bronchoalveolar lavage is invasive; nasal brushing offers a less invasive alternative for CF infant studies.
- Limited research exists on nasal brushing feasibility in very young CF infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of a nasal brushing technique for obtaining respiratory cells from infants.
- To assess the suitability of these cells for various airway epithelial function studies in CF infants.
Main Methods:
- Nasal brushing was performed on 5 CF and 10 control infants (ages 1-18 months) after premedication.
- Samples were analyzed for microbiological, cytological, and functional characteristics.
- Cell viability, ciliary beating frequency, and cAMP-dependent chloride efflux were assessed.
Main Results:
- The nasal brushing procedure was well-tolerated with comparable cell yields in CF and non-CF infants.
- Sufficient viable cells (median 67%) were obtained for functional assays.
- Studies demonstrated feasibility for cell culture, protein release, and mRNA expression analysis (IL-8, IL-6, TNF-alpha).
Conclusions:
- Nasal brushing is a simple, well-tolerated, and feasible technique for harvesting respiratory cells from infants.
- This method provides sufficient cells for diverse airway epithelium studies, including cell culture, in young CF patients.
- Facilitates early-stage research into CF airway pathophysiology.
Background:
For a better understanding of the early stages of cystic fibrosis (CF), it is of major interest to study respiratory epithelial cells obtained as early as possible. Although bronchoalveolar lavage has been proposed for this purpose, nasal brushing, which is a much less invasive technique, has seldom been used in CF infants. The aim of the present study was to examine in a few infants the feasibility of a nasal brushing technique for studies of airway epithelial functions in very young CF infants.
Methods:
In 5 CF (median age 12, range 1-18 months) and 10 control infants (median age 5, range 1-17 months), a nasal brushing was performed by means of a soft sterile cytology brush, after premedication with oral paracetamol (15 mg/kg body weight) and rectal midazolam (0.2 mg/kg body weight). Samples were used for microbiological, cytological and functional studies.
Results:
The procedure was well tolerated. Number of cells collected was similar in CF and non-CF patients (CF: median 230x10(3), range 42x10(3)-900x10(3); non-CF: median 340x10(3), range 140x10(3)-900x10(3)). Median number of viable cells was 67% (range 31-84%). Freshly obtained samples were successfully used for studies of ciliary beating frequency and cAMP-dependent chloride efflux. In 7 out of 17 cell cultures, confluence was obtained (CF: 2 out of 7; non-CF: 5 out of 10). The feasibility of studying protein release and mRNA expression of IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, under basal conditions and after stimulation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was demonstrated.
Conclusions:
By means of a simple nasal brushing technique easily performed and well tolerated, it is feasible, in infants, to harvest respiratory cells in sufficient amounts to study the airway epithelium using a broad range of techniques including cell culture.
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