Cell Specification
Airway smooth muscle is fundamental in maintain airway tone. Their specialized ultrastructural features and regulatory mechanisms are the basis for normal airway function. In patients with severe asthma, the characteristic feature is an increase in bronchial smooth muscle mass. This increased smooth muscle mass is related either to the abnormal bronchial smooth muscle cell proliferation or the accumulation of contractile protein. Airway smooth muscle cell proliferation has been the focus of considerable attention, as it is a quantitatively important component of the airway wall remodeling response in asthma and has been suggested as a suitable target for the development of novel anti-asthma agents. Airway smooth muscle cells express CT-1 [1] and release GM-CSF, RANTES and IL-8 in vitro [2]. In order to develop anti-remodeling drugs, researchers have utilized cell culture techniques to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying bronchial smooth muscle cell proliferation and to identify the critical cell cycle events that regulate the cell growth.

HBSMC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human bronchi and bronchioles. HBSMC are cryopreserved at secondary culture and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 10⁵ cells in 1 ml volume. HBSMC are characterized by immunofluorescent method with antibodies to alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin. HBSMC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HBSMC are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings at the condition provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories.

Recommended Medium
It is recommended to use Smooth Muscle Cell Medium (SMCM, Cat. No. 1101) for the culturing of HBSMC in vitro.

Product Use
HBSMC are for research use only. It is not approved for human or animal use, or for application in in vitro diagnostic procedures.

Storage
Directly and immediately transfer cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen upon receiving and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until cell culture needed for experiments.

Shipping
Dry ice.

Reference
[1]. Zhou, D., Zheng, X., Wang, L., Stelmack, G., Halayko, A. J., Dorscheid, D. and Bai, T. R. (2003) Expression and effects of cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) in human airway smooth muscle cells. British Journal of Pharmacology 140:1237-1244.
[2]. Oltmanns, U., Issa, R., Sukkar, M. B., John, M. and Chung, K. F. (2003) Role of c-jun N-terminal kinase in the induced release of GM-CSF, RANTES and IL-8 from human airway smooth muscle cells. British Journal of Pharmacology 139:1228-1234.