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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Culturing of Human Nasal Epithelial Cells at the Air Liquid Interface
10:38

Culturing of Human Nasal Epithelial Cells at the Air Liquid Interface

Published on: October 8, 2013

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Nasal microbionts differentially colonize and elicit cytokines in human nasal epithelial organoids

Andrea I Boyd1,2, Leah A Kafer1,2, Isabel F Escapa1

  • 1Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|October 10, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Nasal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae may increase infection risk, while Dolosigranulum species indicate health. Human nasal organoids model these host-microbe interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Host-Microbe Interactions

Background:

  • Nasal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae is linked to higher infection risk.
  • Conversely, nasal colonization by Dolosigranulum species is associated with a healthy state.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate host-microbe dynamics in the human nasal mucosa using a novel organoid model.
  • To compare the effects of colonizing human nasal organoids (HNOs) with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Dolosigranulum pigrum.

Main Methods:

  • Human nasal epithelial organoids (HNOs) were monocolonized with S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, or D. pigrum for up to 48 hours.
  • Bacterial localization, cytotoxicity, and host cytokine responses were analyzed.
  • Chemokine expression (CXCL10, CXCL11) was measured.

Main Results:

  • HNOs successfully supported monocolonization, with bacteria localized to the mucus layer and minimal cytotoxicity.
  • Nasal epithelium exhibited species-specific and general cytokine responses, but not type I interferons, indicating colonization rather than infection.
  • Live S. aureus induced IL-1 family cytokines, suggesting inflammasome activation.
  • D. pigrum and live S. aureus decreased CXCL10, while S. pneumoniae increased CXCL11.

Conclusions:

  • Human nasal epithelial organoids serve as a valuable model for studying host-microbe dynamics in the nasal mucosa.
  • The study reveals distinct host responses to colonization by different bacterial species, including inflammatory signaling and chemokine modulation.
Keywords:
Dolosigranulum pigrumHNOMRSAStaphylococcus aureusStreptococcus pneumoniaebacterial colonizationepithelial innate immune responsehuman nasal organoidsnasal colonization

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