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P069

Establishment of airway epithelium organoids for lung disease modelling

P Alonso-Alvarez(1) A Izeta(1) S Fuertes-Alvarez(1)

1:Biodonostia Institute

Respiratory diseases represent one of the most common causes of death in the European population. Genetic conditions, rising pollution levels, tobacco consumption, or infections caused by respiratory viruses (such as SARS-CoV-2) are prevalent factors that underlie airway-related morbidity. In vitro airway models help recapitulate some of these conditions and, among these, organoids are currently best positioned to retain organ-like capabilities. Thus, lung organoids are ideally suited as screening platforms in research or as personalized medicine tools to predict responses to treatment and facilitate clinical decision-making. We have set up a straightforward and reliable protocol to establish robust mouse airway epithelium organoids. 3D cultures were generated in Transwell plates by using Matrigel as a semi-solid substrate. Characterisation by brightfield and confocal microscopy demonstrated a correct organisation and stratification of the CC10+ lung epithelial cells as well as presence of ciliated luminal cells with alpha-acetylated tubulin-positive cilia. A functional characterization protocol is presently being stablished. Our data reveals that distal airway epithelium can form organoids in a comparably short period of time, organizing cells and structures in a way that resembles in vivo conditions.

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