Fig. 1

Azm treatment enhances TEER and decreases paracellular flux of airway epithelium culture in ALI. a) Azm increases TEER in bronchial-derived basal epithelial cell lines. VA10 (top left) and BCi-NS1.1 (top right). Cells were treated with 25 μg/ml (Azm) for 3 weeks, and then RNA was harvested. Bars represent the average from triplicate wells. Significant differences between Ctrl and Azm are indicated (P < 0.05*; P < 0.01**). b) The apical to basolateral permeability of airway epithelia decreased over time in both control and Azm treated cells. Apparent permeability of sodium fluorescein (Na-Flu was measured as an indication of paracellular flux in VA10 cells. This was inversely correlated with an increase in TEER. c) Azm treatment produces a thicker cell layer in airway epithelia. Representative cross-sectional images of VA10 (left) and BCi-NS1.1 (right) cells after culture in ALI for 3 weeks with Azm treatment (bottom) and without (top). Note the increase in thickness of the epithelial layer and formation of vacuoles in Azm treated cells. Cells were counterstained with hemotoxylin. Bar = 100 μm