Culture of airway epithelial cells from neonates sampled within 48-hours of birth.

Introduction: Little is known about how neonatal airway epithelial cell phenotype impacts on respiratory disease in later life. This study aimed to establish a methodology to culture and characterise neonatal nasal epithelial cells sampled from healthy, non-sedated infants within 48 hours of delivery.

Methods: Nasal epithelial cells were sampled by brushing both nostrils with an interdental brush, grown to confluence and sub-cultured.