Pulmonary Cells

The pulmonary cell system mediates the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the organism and its environment. Abnormal cell proliferation and regulation in the lung may lead to the development of pathological disorders. Our comprehensive portfolio of primary human pulmonary cell types allows to model the characteristics of each cell type to investigate their role in developmental biological processes, pharmacological studies, and disease modeling.

Human Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Vascular endothelial cells contribute to the maintenance of vascular homeostasis. They synthesize and secrete activators and inhibitors of both the coagulation system and the fibrinolysis system, as well as mediators that affect platelet adhesion and aggregation. Endothelial cells also release molecules that control cell proliferation and modulate vessel wall tone. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMEC) form a semi-selective barrier, which is critical for the exchange of lung gas and the regulation of fluid and solute passage between the blood and interstitial chambers in the lung. HPMEC provide a useful tool for studying various aspects of pathology and biology of the pulmonary microvasculature in vitro.

Human Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells

Smooth muscle cells (SMC) are major contributors to the development of arterial disease. The ability of vascular SMC to switch to a proliferative phenotype is one of the main factors for the development and progression of vascular disease. Primary human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMC) are isolated from human pulmonary arteries and stained positive for smooth muscle α-actin. HPASMC express VEGF and FGF-2 and are subjected to mechanical forces in the pulsatile blood flow. They are suited for studying the function of pulmonary arteries under normal and disease conditions. The cultured HPASMC play an important role in the study of vascular disease and can be used to determine new therapeutic targets for the treatment of pulmonary vascular diseases.

Human Pulmonary Fibroblasts

The most abundant cell type in lung interstitium is fibroblasts. They are similar to ordinary fibroblasts, but have some unique characteristics, such as long branching processes and gap junctions. The main function of human pulmonary fibroblasts (HPF) is to produce elastin, type III collagen, and proteoglycans of the extracellular matrix of the alveolar septa. HPF play an important role in the process of repair and remodeling after injury. The accumulation of fibroblasts at the sites of inflammation is essential for effective tissue repair after injury. Insufficient or excessive accumulation of fibroblasts may cause abnormal tissue function.

Human Pulmonary Alveolar Epithelial Cells

Pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (PAEpiC) are comprised of alveolar type I and type II epithelial cells. The terminally differentiated squamous alveolar epithelial type I cells account for approximately 95% of the alveolar surface area. They contain aquaporins and exhibit the highest osmotic water permeability of any type of mammalian cell. Type II cells cover only 5% of the alveolar surface area, but they constitute 67% of the number of epithelial cells in the alveoli, pointing to their biochemical importance. The major functions of type II cells are the synthesis of surfactant, the transepithelial movement of water and ions, the metabolism of xenobiotics and the regeneration of alveolar epithelium following lung injury. The currently accepted hypothesis is that Type II cells maintain pulmonary fluid homeostasis by regulating active Na⁺ transport in the lung, while Type I cells are "inert" cells that only provide barrier function but not active function.