In vitro Toxicology of the Respiratory System

摘要

The lungs represent an important target organ for toxicants and present particular challenges regarding the development of in vitro methodologies and their use in screening of pneumotoxicants and in understanding mechanisms by which chemicals injure the respiratory tract. The development of in vitro lung methodologies for use in mechanistic studies has received considerable attention over the past several years. Some methods, for example, lung organ culture and culture of specific airway epithelial cells, presently are best described as still under development. Others, such as isolated, perfused lung preparations, have been used for many years and are well characterized. Attention among toxicologists to developing methods for in vitro screening of potential pneumotoxicants has been less than that devoted to certain other tissues, such as the eye and skin. Indeed, there seem to be relatively few investigators interested in development of in vitro lung screening methodologies as a major focus of study. Perhaps this is due to less external pressure of the types that have driven efforts in areas such as ocular and dermal testing.