Antibacterial activity of apical surface fluid from the human airway cell line Calu-3: Pharmacologic alteration by corticosteroids and β₂-agonists

Calu-3 cells, a human lung carcinoma cell line with properties like serous cells of the upper airway, were used to develop an in vitro model for airway antibacterial activity. Calu-3 cell monolayers were cultured on permeable supports at an air-liquid interface. Apical surface fluid (ASF) was collected by washing; antibacterial activity was assayed by incubating ASF washings with bacteria for 18 h and counting surviving colony-forming units. ASF washings killed Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibacterial activity was salt sensitive and dependent on protein concentration. After washing, approximately 30 h were required before antibacterial activity recovered to its initial level. After culturing with topical corticosteroids (budesonide, triamcinolone, or beclomethasone, 0.1 μg/ml for 48 h), ASF antibacterial activity was 4- to 10-fold greater than the ASF from control monolayers. The increase in antibacterial activity was dose-dependent. The β₂-agonists salbutamol and terbutaline (100 μg/ml for 48 h) decreased ASF antibacterial activity by 5- to 8-fold. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents ibuprofen and cromolyn sodium had no effect. Our results are most consistent with agonist-dependent changes in the composition of ASF antibacterial proteins. We conclude that Calu-3 cells synthesize and secrete antibacterial proteins and that clinical agents can alter these functions.