The sequential migration of neutrophils through endothelium and epithelium: a new model system

To better understand the mechanisms by which neutrophils migrate into the airways, we constructed a novel in vitro model system with human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVE) monolayers grown on top of permeable filters and human lung Type II-like alveolar epithelial cell (A549) monolayers grown on the undersurface of the filters. The sequential migration of human neutrophils through the endothelium (apical to basal movement) and subsequently through the epithelium (basal to apical movement) in response to a stimulus located basally to the epithelium was measured. We found that the neutrophil chemoattractants, formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and interleukin-8 (IL-8), induced dose-responsive migration through the double monolayer-filter complex. The pattern of migration was similar to that observed through either a naked filter or single monolayer-filter complex. Maximal chemotaxis through the double monolayer-filter complex was observed by 3 hours. Thus, we have established an in vitro model system to examine the sequential migration of neutrophils through endothelium and the respiratory epithelium in a manner analogous to that occurring with an in vivo airway stimulus causing neutrophil-rich airway inflammatory responses.