CYP1A1/1B1 and CYP2A6/2A13 activity is conserved in cultures of differentiated primary human tracheobronchial epithelial cells.

Background: The respiratory tract is the primary route of exposure to inhaled toxicants such as environmental pollutants and tobacco smoke. Metabolic activation of xenobiotics is a contributor to the onset of lung diseases. Enzymes such as CYP1A1/1B1 and CYP2A6/2A13 activate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrosamines, respectively. Yet, few in vitro models retaining both adequate morphology and metabolic activities are currently available to investigate smoke toxicity.

Objective: We characterised the expression and activity of the toxicologically relevant metabolic enzymes CYP1A1/1B1 and CYP2A6/2A13 in polarised primary tracheobronchial epithelial cells cultured at the air-liquid interface. Metabolic activity was compared with NCI-H292 and A549, two commonly used lung epithelial cell models.

Results: We report that CYP activity and inducibility is conserved in polarised primary tracheobronchial epithelial cells for 7- and 28-days cultured at the air-liquid interface. In comparison, NCI-H292 cells did not show CYP2A6/2A13 activity whilst A549 cells did not display significant metabolic activity for CYP1A1/1B1 or CYP2A6/2A13.

Conclusion: Primary tracheobronchial epithelial cells retain both a polarised morphology and significant metabolic activity over a prolonged period of time. On the other hand, although A549 cells and NCI-H292 cells have been extensively used as lung models for toxicological assessment, they lack critical metabolic activation capability.