PneumaCult™-ALI-S Medium
Serum- and BPE-free medium for human small airway epithelial cells cultured at the air-liquid interface

Request Pricing
Thank you for your interest in this product. Please provide us with your contact information and your local representative will contact you with a customized quote. Where appropriate, they can also assist you with a(n):
Estimated delivery time for your area
Product sample or exclusive offer
In-lab demonstration
Overview
Together, PneumaCult™-ALI-S Medium and PneumaCult™-Ex Plus Medium (#05040) constitute a fully integrated BPE-free culture system for in vitro human small airway modeling. This robust and defined system is a valuable tool for basic respiratory research, toxicity studies, and drug development.
Learn how to culture human airway epithelial cells at the ALI in our On-Demand Pulmonary Course or browse our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the ALI culture workflow using PneumaCult™.
Data Figures

Figure 1. Overview of the PneumaCult™ Culture System for Small Airway Research
Expansion of human small airway epithelial cells (HSAEC) in submerged culture is performed with PneumaCult™-Ex Plus Medium. During the early Expansion Phase of the air-liquid interface (ALI) culture procedure, PneumaCult™-Ex Plus is applied to the apical and basal chambers. Upon reaching confluence, the culture is air-lifted by removing the culture medium from both chambers, and PneumaCult™-ALI-S is added to the basal chamber only. Differentiation into a mucociliary epithelium is obtained following 21+ days of incubation and can be maintained for more than one year.

Figure 2. HSAEC and HBEC Grow at a Higher Rate During Expansion When Cultured in PneumaCult™-Ex Plus Medium
Human small airway epithelial cells (HSAEC) and human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) cultured in PneumaCult™-Ex Plus Medium exhibited higher proliferation rate at every passage compared with cells cultured in Small Airway Epithelial Cell Growth Medium. Cryopreserved HSAEC were obtained commercially at passage 2 (P2) while HBEC were obtained at P1.

Figure 3. HSAEC Cultured at the ALI Using PneumaCult™-ALI-S Medium Differentiate to Form a Morphology Representative of the Small Airway Epithelium
Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of HSAEC and HBEC cultured in PneumaCult™-ALI-S or PneumaCult™-ALI Medium at P3, after 28 days. HSAEC differentiated at the ALI in PneumaCult™-ALI-S formed a thin, cuboidal epithelial layer representative of the in vivo small airway epithelium while HBEC differentiated in PneumaCult™-ALI formed a pseudostratified epithelium resembling the in vivo bronchial epithelium. The ALI cultures were fixed, paraffin-embedded, sectioned, and stained with H&E. All images were taken using a 40X objective. Insert membrane was 10 μm in thickness. Scale bar = 20 μm.

Figure 4. Small Airway Epithelium Markers Were Detected in HSAEC Cultured in PneumaCult™-ALI-S Medium
Confocal images of whole mount immunostained ALI cultures showing HSAEC and HBEC cultured in PneumaCult™-ALI-S or PneumaCult™-ALI Medium at P3, after 28 days. The ALI cultures were fixed and stained with antibodies for ciliated cells (AC-tubulin; green), club cells (SCGB1A1; magenta), and secretory protein (SCGB3A2; red). The nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (blue). Small airway epithelium markers, SCGB1A1 and SCGB3A2, were detected at higher levels in HSAEC cultured in PneumaCult™-ALI-S compared with HSAEC cultured in PneumaCult™-ALI and HBEC cultured in either PneumaCult™-ALI-S or PneumaCult™-ALI. All images were taken using a 63X objective.

Figure 5. Relative Expression of Small Airway Epithelium Markers by qPCR Were Detected at Higher Levels in HSAEC Cultured in PneumaCult™-ALI-S Medium Compared with HSAEC Cultured in PneumaCult™-ALI
HSAEC and HBEC cultured in PneumaCult™-ALI-S or PneumaCult™-ALI Medium at P3. After 28-days of differentiation, the ALI cultures were analysed for small airway epithelium markers, SCGB1A1 and SCGB3A2. Gene of Interest expression was normalized to housekeeping gene, TBP, and expressed as relative quantity (RQ). Relative expression of SCGB1A1 and SCGB3A2 was higher in HSAEC cultured in PneumaCult™-ALI-S Medium compared with HSAEC cultured in PneumaCult™-ALI and HBEC cultured in either PneumaCult™-ALI-S or PneumaCult™-ALI. Relative expression of SCGB3A2 was not detectable in HBEC cultured in either PneumaCult™-ALI or PneumaCult™-ALI-S.
Protocols and Documentation
Find supporting information and directions for use in the Product Information Sheet or explore additional protocols below.
Applications
This product is designed for use in the following research area(s) as part of the highlighted workflow stage(s). Explore these workflows to learn more about the other products we offer to support each research area.
Resources and Publications
Educational Materials (18)
Publications (1)
Abstract
Quality Statement:
PRODUCTS ARE FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY AND NOT INTENDED FOR HUMAN OR ANIMAL DIAGNOSTIC OR THERAPEUTIC USES UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON QUALITY AT STEMCELL, REFER TO WWW.STEMCELL.COM/COMPLIANCE.