Human lung epithelium model being tested as a platform for COVID-19 research

A biotech company has announced they are testing whether their human lung epithelium model could be used as a platform for investigating SARS-CoV-2 infection and developing and evaluating potential antiviral strategies for COVID-19.

Newcells Biotech based their lung epithelium organoid on human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) and have been developing the model for two years. The model contains basal epithelia, ciliated and secretory cells (goblet and club cells) organised in a stratified epithelium. The company stated it has already confirmed it expresses the mRNA for the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2) which SARS-CoV, the coronavirus causing COVID-19, uses to infect cells. It is currently determining whether ACE2 is present on the surface of cells in the model.

Once this is confirmed, the enterprise intends to challenge the model with the virus to confirm it can infect and virally replicate. The company is working with two laboratories to design these protocols.

According to Newcells, before the COVID-19 pandemic it had been developing a hiPSC-derived model of the upper airway for toxicology testing of environmental pollutants. This model has been shown to respond to airborne particles with cytokine responses and changes in gene expression. 

The enterprise said it is working rapidly to demonstrate the utility of its assays for COVID-19 research and is interested in working with collaborators.