Development of an in vitro respiratory sensitization test by reproducing respiratory-specific immune responses

Abstract

The skin sensitization test h-CLAT was modified to detect respiratory sensitizers by co-culturing THP-1 cells with 3D human bronchial epithelium. Two skin and six respiratory sensitizers were tested in this co-culture system and results were compared with standard h-CLAT. Among the sensitizers tested, HBTU and TBTU were successfully judged positive only in the co-culture system, suggesting this co-culture system is useful for the detection of respiratory sensitizers. Further optimization is required to distinguish more accurately respiratory from skin sensitizers with this test system.