François M Carlier, Bruno Detry, Marylène Lecocq, Amandine M Collin, Thomas Planté-Bordeneuve, Ludovic Gérard, Stijn E Verleden, Monique Delos, Benoît Rondelet, Wim Janssens, Jérôme Ambroise, Bart M Vanaudenaerde, Sophie Gohy, Charles Pilette
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a devastating and irreversible lung disease, causes structural and functional defects in the bronchial epithelium, the (ir)reversibility of which remains unexplored in vitro. This study aimed to investigate the persistence of COPD-related epithelial defects in long-term airway epithelial cultures derived from non-smokers, smokers, and COPD patients. Barrier function, polarity, cell commitment, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and inflammation were evaluated and compared with native epithelium characteristics...
March 2024: Life Science Alliance