Breakthrough for Lung Researchers: Reliable Storage Method to Preserve Human Lung Slices
In a nationwide joint effort and collaboration as part of the graduate school “Targets in Toxicology” at the LMU Munich, lung researchers have now for the first time developed a reliable storage method, that could revolutionize lung research by enabling broader access and on-demand experimentation.
To better understand chronic lung diseases, scientists use human precision-cut lung slices (hPCLS) as a research model. These slices retain the structure and diverse cell types of the lung, making them invaluable for studying disease mechanisms, testing new drugs, and assessing toxicity. However, a key limitation has been the inability to store hPCLS for extended periods. Researchers typically need to use fresh samples immediately, making access difficult for those who are not near major transplant or surgical centers.
The study of the scientists around Mareike Lehmann, Camila Melo-Narvaez (both Institute of Lung Health and Immunity/Munich Site of German Center for Lung Research, DZL/CPC-M), Timo Wille and Fee Gölitz (Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Munich) was published in Respiratory Research:
Novel method for long-term cold storage of hPCLS
With hPCLS, provided by the CPC-M bioArchive the scientist studied how different storage solutions affect hPCLS over time, analyzing changes in cell viability, metabolism, and gene expression. Their findings show that only one optimized preservation solution, TiProtec, can keep hPCLS viable for up to 14 days, significantly extending their usability. Unlike traditional storage solutions, TiProtec helps maintain the lung slices’ cellular composition and gene activity, preventing unwanted degradation and preserving their responsiveness to experimental treatments. Finally, the study demonstrates that cold-stored hPCLS can be used for on-demand mechanistic studies relevant for respiratory research.
Advanced techniques for the best solution
The scientists prepared hPCLS from donated lung tissue and stored them in three different solutions. They then examined how well the slices retained their metabolic activity, structural integrity, and gene expression over time, using advanced techniques like bulk-RNA sequencing and immunofluorescence imaging. Their results showed that only TiProtec effectively maintained cell populations, reduced stress-related damage, and kept the tissue responsive to experimental treatments, such as exposure to fibrotic stimuli.
This study paves the way for improved lung disease research by providing a reliable method to store and transport lung slices for extended periods. With TiProtec, researchers can conduct more flexible, large-scale studies, accelerating discoveries in lung disease mechanisms and treatment development. Future studies will likely explore further optimizations and expand the method’s application to other tissue types.
Original publication: