Preserving Airway Smooth Muscle Contraction in Precision-Cut Lung Slices

Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 15;10(1):6480. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-63225-y.

Abstract

Precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) are ideal for measuring small airway contraction. However, these measurements are currently limited to acute exposure scenarios that typically last a few minutes to a few hours. Using an insulin-supplemented culture medium, we prolong the small airway contractility in mouse PCLS for up to two weeks. Compared to conventional culture medium, insulin-supplemented culture medium provides no additional benefit in preserving cellular viability or airway structure. However, it protects the airway smooth muscle (ASM) against a loss of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) expression. We elucidate the significance of this new culture medium for chronic disease modeling of IL-13-induced airway hyper-responsiveness.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Culture Media / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Interleukin-13 / immunology
  • Interleukin-13 / metabolism
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Muscle Contraction / physiology*
  • Muscle, Smooth / cytology
  • Muscle, Smooth / physiology*
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / metabolism
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / metabolism
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / physiopathology
  • Tissue Culture Techniques / methods*

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Insulin
  • Interleukin-13
  • Myosin Heavy Chains