MATERIALS AND METHODS
Cell cultures
16HBE 14o- cells were seeded on collagen (type I, 4 µg/cm²)-coated plastic plates
(Costar, Cambridge, MA, USA) and grown to subconfluence in DMEM/F12 medium
supplemented with penicillin (100 U/ml), streptomycin (100 µg/ml), glutamine (0.3 mg/ml),
fungizone (1.25 µg/ml) and UltroserG (UG, 2%, BioSepra, Cergy-St-Christophe, France).
Primary cultures of normal human nasal epithelial (NHNE) cells were obtained from
turbinates of patients undergoing turbinectomy. Protocol was approved by the review and
ethics committees of the hospital. NHNE cells were seeded on collagen (type I, 4 µg/cm²)coated plastic plates and grown to subconfluence in a 1:1 mixture of Clonetics® bronchial
epithelial growth medium (BEGM, Cambrex, Walkersville, MD, USA) and DMEM/F12
media supplemented with penicillin (100 U/ml), streptomycin (100 µg/ml), fungizone (1.25
µg/ml), gentamicin (100 µg/ml) and EGF (25 ng/ml).