PneumaCult™ Culture Media for Airway Epithelial Cells

Model the Human Respiratory System In Vitro as ALI Cultures or Organoids

Physiologically relevant in vitro models of the human airway or alveoli, such as air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures or organoids using primary nasal, tracheal, airway or alveolar epithelial cells, are critical for studying respiratory biology, infection, and disease. The PneumaCult™ culture system enables expansion and differentiation of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and human small airway epithelial cells (HSAECs) at the ALI or for generation of functional airway organoids from HBECs, in a serum- and bovine pituitary extract (BPE)-free culture media. PneumaCult™ media can also be used for expansion and differentiation of alveolar epithelial cells in robust and defined cell culture conditions.

Airway cells expanded and differentiated at the ALI with PneumaCult™ retain key features of the in vivo human airway epithelium, such as a pseudostratified (large airway) or cuboidal (small airway) mucociliary epithelium. While fully differentiated apical-in airway organoids exhibit a centralized lumen surrounded by a polarized airway epithelial cell layer, composed of differentiated cell types, apical-out airway organoids provide access to the apical side of the airway epithelium. Additionally, mature and fully differentiated alveolar organoids generated using PneumaCult™ recapitulate key features of in vivo alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) and alveolar epithelial type I (ATI) cells.

How to Model the Human Airway at the Air-Liquid Interface

Get an overview of the ALI culture workflow in this introductory video, or dive right into the step-by-step protocols by following the links below.

Expansion of Human Airway Epithelial Cells >

Differentiation of Human Airway Epithelial Cells>


Are You Truly Modeling the Human Airway?

Obtaining truly differentiated ALI cultures with optimal morphology and functional readouts can be challenging with primary cells. However, they are crucial for enabling physiologically relevant respiratory research. Explore whether or not your airway cultures truly model the human airway.

Learn More >

Why Use PneumaCult™ for In Vitro Airway and Alveolar Cultures?

  • Model the human airway and alveoli with in vitro model systems that closely recapitulate what is observed in vivo.
  • Maximize experimental reproducibility and your confidence with rigorous raw material screening and extensive quality control testing.
  • Expand and differentiate human airway and alveolar epithelial cells with this complete medium system.
  • Get started now with convenient formats and easy-to-use protocols.

PneumaCult™ Media for In Vitro Airway and Alveolar Cultures

PneumaCult™-Ex Plus

PneumaCult™-Ex Plus

Recommended for:

Improved expansion of primary human airway epithelial cells

Species:

Human

Culture Type:

Submerged culture

PneumaCult™-Ex

PneumaCult™-Ex

Recommended for:

Expansion of primary human airway epithelial cells

Species:

Human

Culture Type:

Submerged culture

PneumaCult™-ALI

PneumaCult™-ALI

Recommended for:

Extensive mucociliary differentiation of primary human bronchial epithelial cells to form a pseudostratified epithelium (large airway)

Species:

Human

Culture Type:

Air-liquid interface (ALI)

PneumaCult™-ALI-S

PneumaCult™-ALI-S

Recommended for:

Extensive mucociliary differentiation of primary human small airway epithelial cells to form a cuboidal epithelium (small airway)

Species:

Human

Culture Type:

Air-liquid interface (ALI) culture

PneumaCult™ Airway Organoid Kit

PneumaCult™ Airway Organoid Kit

Recommended for:

Efficient establishment and differentiation of airway organoids derived from human bronchial epithelial cells

Species:

Human

Culture Type:

Organoid culture

PneumaCult™ Apical-Out Airway Organoid Medium

Recommended for:

Generation of reproducible apical-out airway organoids from human bronchial epithelial cells using a Matrigel®-free protocol

Species:

Human

Culture Type:

Organoid culture

PneumaCult™ Alveolar Organoid Media

PneumaCult™-Ex Plus

Recommended for:

Efficient passage and expansion of human alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells as organoids, with downstream differentiation of the ATII organoids to alveolar epithelial type I (ATI) organoids

Species:

Human

Culture Type:

Organoid culture
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Try PneumaCult™ in your own lab. Request a Sample >



Unsure Which Media Is Right for You?

Whether you’re starting with primary airway epithelial cells or human pluripotent stem cells, finding the right media can help you generate reproducible cultures and standardize your pulmonary workflows. Use our Interactive Product Finder to generate a complete list of materials to support your pulmonary workflow, whether you’re culturing your cells as monolayers, organoids, or at the air-liquid interface (ALI). Start by answering the first question:

Use the Interactive Product Finder >

Why Use Serum- and BPE-Free Cell Culture Medium?

Traditional formulations for airway epithelial cell cultures typically contain undefined components such as serum and BPE. However, their presence contributes to experimental variability and inconsistent performance. Removing serum and BPE from cell culture media reduces lot-to-lot variability and helps maximize experimental reproducibility. PneumaCult™ culture media system has been formulated to be serum- and BPE-free while maintaining the highest possible performance of the media for culturing human airway epithelial cells.



Studying Human Health and Disease With In Vitro Airway and Alveolar Cultures


Resources for In Vitro Airway and Alveolar Research

Human Airway Epithelial Cell Training Course

Learn how to expand primary HAECs, prepare cultureware for ALI culture, establish cultures of HAECs, and perform downstream assays at the ALI under the guidance of STEMCELL’s in-house experts.

Learn More >

Key Applications

Epithelial Cell Biology

Müller L et al. (2013) Culturing of human nasal epithelial cells at the air liquid interface. J Vis Exp (80): e50646, DOI:10.3791/50646.

Stem Cell Biology

Tata PR et al. (2013) Dedifferentiation of committed epithelial cells into stem cells in vivo. Nature 503(7475): 218-23.

Effects of Pollutants, Cigarette Smoke and Other Toxic Substances

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