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Utilizing Neonatal Tracheal Aspirate-Derived Bronchial Basal Stem Cells to Model Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Caiqi Zhao1, Gaurang M Amonkar1, Paul H Lerou1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|August 29, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This study presents a new method to grow infant bronchial epithelium from tracheal aspirates. This model aids in studying respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Virology
  • Stem Cell Biology

Background:

  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of infant bronchiolitis and hospitalization.
  • Infant respiratory infections pose significant mortality and morbidity risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a protocol for modeling RSV infection in infant bronchial epithelium.
  • To establish a method for deriving and expanding bronchial basal stem cells (BSCs) from neonatal tracheal aspirates (TAs).

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and expansion of bronchial basal stem cells (BSCs) from neonatal tracheal aspirates (TAs).
  • Differentiation of TA BSCs into functional bronchial epithelium using air-liquid interface (ALI) culture.
  • Utilizing the developed ALI culture model to study RSV infection.

Main Results:

  • A robust protocol for TA BSC derivation and expansion was established.
  • TA BSCs demonstrated the ability to differentiate into major bronchial epithelial cell types in ALI culture.
  • The ALI model successfully replicated infant bronchial epithelium for RSV infection studies.

Conclusions:

  • The developed protocol provides a valuable method for generating functional infant bronchial epithelium.
  • This model system is crucial for advancing research into RSV pathogenesis and treatment in infants.
  • The TA BSC-derived ALI culture is a significant tool for studying infant respiratory viral infections.

Keywords:
Air-liquid interface (ALI)Airway epithelial cells (AEC)Basal stem cell (BSC)InfantRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV)Tracheal aspirate (TA)

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