Culturing of Airway Stem Cells Obtained from COPD Patients to Assess the Effects of Rhinovirus Infection.

Rhinovirus primarily infects airway epithelial cells lining the conductive airways. Mucociliary-differentiated airway epithelial cell cultures, established from airway basal cells, are relevant in vitro model systems to examine the rhinovirus-stimulated innate immune responses and changes in barrier function. The airway epithelium in patients with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often shows remodeling, such as goblet cell metaplasia, squamous metaplasia, and basal cell hyperplasia.