Cell Representative Species Advantages Limitations Pathogenic Mechanisms
Bronchial Epithelial Cell Primary Bronchial Epithelial Cells (Human/Mouse) Most closely resemble natural epithelial characteristics; maintain morphology, function, and expression of pulmonary epithelial lineage features; retain potential for proliferation, migration, and differentiation into various cell types. High cost of isolation and cultivation; may lose original phenotype with increasing culture time. EMT, cell autophagy, cell senescence, and apoptosis, etc.
Human Bronchial Epithelial Cell Line (BEAS-2B Cell Line) Human origin, physiological barrier characteristics, and easy cultivation; exhibits immortalization; retains the ability for squamous differentiation in response to serum; preserves epithelial cell characteristics and terminal differentiation potential. May lose some characteristics of primary cells; genetic material may undergo variation during long-term passaging. EMT, post-translational modifications of proteins, mitochondrial autophagy, etc.
Human Bronchial Epithelial-Like Cell Line (16HBE Cell Line) Human origin, physiological barrier characteristics, and easy cultivation; retains differentiated epithelial morphology and maintains normal epithelial function; capable of phagocytizing silica particles without any ultrastructural changes; expresses basement membrane proteins and type IV collagen, etc.