PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Andrea Stokes AU - Elisabeth Kieninger AU - Brigitte Sandra Kopf AU - Nicolas Regamey AU - Marco Alves TI - Comparison of different instruments to obtain nasal epithelial cells from human volunteers DP - 2012 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - P1953 VI - 40 IP - Suppl 56 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P1953.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P1953.full SO - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40 AB - IntroductionNasal epithelial cells have been shown to be good surrogate markers for bronchial epithelial cells. We aimed at comparing different brushing instruments allowing collection of nasal epithelial cells.MethodsNasal epithelial cells were obtained by brushing the inferior surface of the middle turbinate of both nostrils using three different instruments: a cytology brush, a flocked nasal swab and a nasal mucosal curette. Cell cultures were established by seeding the cells into medium. Cell count, cell viability, success rate in establishing cell cultures and the acceptability to subjects were compared between groupsResults60 human subjects (median [IQR] age: 34 [27-36] years) were brushed. Higher number of cells were obtained using brushes (9.8 [6.7-33.5] x 105 cells/mL) compared to swabs (2.5 [1.5-4.0] x 105 cells/mL, p<0.0001) and curettes (1.3 [1.0-2.1] x 105 cells/mL, p<0.0001). Viability was similar for cells obtained using brushes (42 [14-78] %), swabs (54 [15-71] %) and curettes (54 [25-69] %). Cells obtained by brushes reached confluence fastest (6 [6-10] d), followed by cells obtained by curettes (11 [9-15] d, n.s.) and swabs (19 [13-21] d, p=0.0001). Success rate in establishing primary cell cultures (∼ 90% confluent cell layers within 21 days in a 12.5 cm2 cell culture flask) was 90% with brushes, 65% with swabs and 85% with curettes. Pain intensity was similar for all instruments, brushes (3.0 [2.0-5.8] out of 10 on the pain scale), swabs (2.5 [1.0-4.0] and curettes (3.0 [2.0-5.0]).ConclusionAll three types of instruments allow collection and growth of human nasal epithelial cells, with good acceptability to subjects. The most efficient instrument is the nasal brush.