Methods for improving tissue culture of human tracheo-bronchial epithelium obtained at autopsy

Human tracheo-bronchial epithelium obtained from autopsy, surgery, and organ donation will have areas of both viable and non-viable cells. It is important in the initial establishment of epithelial explant and cell cultures that injured, non-viable mucosal epithelium not be used for the cultures. Autopsy cases selected for culture should initially be chosen on the basis of a shorter post mortem interval and cause of death in order to increase the rate of successful culture. Staining the epithelium with the vital dye, trypan blue, in combination with phase contrast microscopy of the bronchial tissues will further identify those areas of the mucosa that are enriched for viable cells. The dead, non-viable areas are trypan blue positive, while the viable areas are clear and have foci of beating, motile cilia. Treatment of the mucosal tissue with mucolytic agents to remove cell debris, dead cells, and microbes trapped in the mucus material will further improve the chances for successful culture. Human tracheo-bronchial epithelium, although non-sterile and often injured at time zero for numerous reasons, can effectively be used in in vitro pathophysiology studies.