Organotypic (raft) culture of biopsy-derived upper respiratory epithelium.

Objective: The objective of this study was to derive a reliable technique for culturing biopsy-derived upper respiratory epithelium in a system that supports epithelial differentiation and simulates the normal epithelial life cycle.

Study Design: The authors conducted a prospective study of modification and development of an in vitro tissue culture method.

Methods: Thirty biopsy specimens from 16 individuals with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and chronic tonsillitis, pretreated to prevent bacterial and fungal overgrowth, were digested with trypsin to create a supernatant of individual cells.