LOCALIZATION OF P-GLYCOPROTEIN IN HYMAN TRACHEAL/BRONCHIAL EPITHELIAL CELL CULTURE (EPIAIRWAY™)

The development of a human in vitro cell culture system would enhance the ability to study various factors affecting nasal drug delivery. EpiAirway is a cell culture system derived from normal human tracheal/bronchial epithelial cells which is grown on polycarbonate inserts. It shows a well developed epithelial region and retains the ability to secrete mucus. Characterization of the expression and activity of protein transporters in the EpiAirway System is important for the use of this model in nasal drug delivery studies. The presence of P-glycoprotein in the EpiAirway System was investigated due to the significant role this transporter plays in drug efflux in many tissues (e.g., kidney, liver, small intestine, vascular enothelium). In these studies, the presence of P-glycoprotein and the transport behavior of a P-glycoprotein substrate, etoposide, across the EpiAirway System was evaluated.

Apical surface, Basolateral, Ciliated epithelium, Drug efflux, Drug transport studies, Efflux transport, EpiAirway, Epithelial, Etoposide flux, Fick’s first law, Microvilli, Nasal drug delivery, P-glycoprotein, Protein transporters, Tight junctions, Tracheal/bronchial , Transmission electron microscopy, Transport studies, Western blotting

Epon, Etoposide transport