Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a severe and debilitating lung disease that leads to high levels of morbidity and mortality. Currently, no curative treatments are available for COPD and treatment is focused on reducing symptoms and increasing the quality of life.
In order to identify novel therapeutic targets, it is important to understand the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms, for which various in vitro models have been used over time. For decades scientists have used submerged 2D mono-cultures. For lung epithelial cell cultures, submerged cultures are slowly being replaced by more advanced air-liquid-interface cultures which allows differentiation of epithelial cells. Recently, several new models have been introduced that integrate novel features to mimic the in vivo environment more accurately. To study the interaction between different cell-types, co-culture models have been developed, combining both structural lung cells (e.g. epithelial cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells), as well as various immune cells. For some cell types, like alveolar epithelial cells and fibroblasts, it was shown that physical cues like stiffness of the surrounding or the dimensions of growth are important for survival and natural behavior. Therefore, models like 3D hydrogels, organoids and precision cut lung slices have been developed. A recent advancement is the development of on-chip models. Here, microfluidic systems are added to the culture model to create both fluid- and airflow. Furthermore, molecular editing techniques have greatly advanced in the past years. CRISPR-Cas9 models are now widely applied to knock-in or knock-out targets or to specifically modify genetic targets.
In this article collection we aim to demonstrate the latest findings in the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in chronic obstructive lung diseases using advanced in vitro techniques.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a severe and debilitating lung disease that leads to high levels of morbidity and mortality. Currently, no curative treatments are available for COPD and treatment is focused on reducing symptoms and increasing the quality of life.
In order to identify novel therapeutic targets, it is important to understand the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms, for which various in vitro models have been used over time. For decades scientists have used submerged 2D mono-cultures. For lung epithelial cell cultures, submerged cultures are slowly being replaced by more advanced air-liquid-interface cultures which allows differentiation of epithelial cells. Recently, several new models have been introduced that integrate novel features to mimic the in vivo environment more accurately. To study the interaction between different cell-types, co-culture models have been developed, combining both structural lung cells (e.g. epithelial cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells), as well as various immune cells. For some cell types, like alveolar epithelial cells and fibroblasts, it was shown that physical cues like stiffness of the surrounding or the dimensions of growth are important for survival and natural behavior. Therefore, models like 3D hydrogels, organoids and precision cut lung slices have been developed. A recent advancement is the development of on-chip models. Here, microfluidic systems are added to the culture model to create both fluid- and airflow. Furthermore, molecular editing techniques have greatly advanced in the past years. CRISPR-Cas9 models are now widely applied to knock-in or knock-out targets or to specifically modify genetic targets.
In this article collection we aim to demonstrate the latest findings in the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in chronic obstructive lung diseases using advanced in vitro techniques.