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Now launched! Ciliary beat frequency analysis assay for small airway epithelium cells - rapid compound analysis with enhanced sensitivity

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Lung ciliary beat frequency analysis

Models

  • Human Small Airway Epithelial Cell (SAEC) model

Service

  • Ciliary beat frequency analysis on SAEC model

Timeline

  • 6 to 8 weeks

In Vitro Ciliary Beat Analysis for Lung Small Airway Epithelial Cells

The lung ciliary beat frequency analysis in vitro assay helps assess the effect of drugs and chemicals on the function of cilia in the small airway epithelium. It predicts mucociliary clearance, evaluates drug efficacy and safety, dosing and compound kinetics.

The assay uses the physiologically relevant lung SAEC model in Air-liquid interface (ALI) culture to reliably predict in vivo results. It has been functionally validated and streamlined to accurately provide sensitive analysis of multiple functional parameters of beating cilia in healthy and disease-like conditions, offering added value to the  SAEC toxicity assay.

High-definition videos of beating ciliated cells are captured using an optimized setup designed for increased sensitivity. This setup employs Newcells’ proprietary CiliaBeat software, which quickly generates accurate datasets. These datasets provide detailed, unbiased insights into the effects of drugs on the activity of SAEC and the frequency of beating cilia, enabling confident decision-making.

Assay outputs

  • Ciliary beat frequency
  • Percentage area covered by active cilia
  • Ciliary beat frequency histogram
  • Beating cilia heatmap
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Functionally validated

Rapid analysis for fast-acting compounds

Multiple readouts for comprehensive insights

Lung ciliary beat frequency analysis

Quantitative, rapid and comprehensive assessment of lung small airway cilia function

1.

Evaluate the effect of drugs and airborne chemicals on small airway ciliated cells

2.

Assess slow and rapid-acting compounds in healthy and disease-like conditions

3.

Get high-sensitivity data of beating cilia for safety and dosing studies

Outsource your experiments to us Close Open
  • Leverage our in-house developed CiliaBeat software to gather reliable, predictive data and proceed confidently to in vivo studies
  • Our scientists work closely with you to design and carry out experiments tailored to your hypothesis at our state-of-the-art facilities before delivering a comprehensive study report
  • Gain fast and dependable study data that offers crucial insights into the effect of your compounds on cilia activity of lung small airway cells by leveraging our high-sensitivity ciliary beating assay service 
Assay Design
Cell model Primary lung SAEC model that includes all major cell type of the lung epithelium:
1. Basal cells
2. Club cells
3. Goblet cells
4. Ciliated cells
Species Human
Assay Format 24-well ALI
Assay Readouts 1. Ciliary beat frequency
2. Percentage area covered by active cilia
3. Ciliary beat frequency histogram
4. Beating cilia heatmap
Biological variation N=2 validated donors
Technical replicates N=6 technical replicates
Assay treatment window As per study specifications (up to 42 days)
High-sensitivity, easy-to-read datasets Close Open

The ciliary beat frequency analysis assay can detect changes in frequency as low as 0.25 Hz so that you can identify the most efficacious compounds to progress through the drug development process. The CiliaBeat software simplifies the interpretation of large datasets, offering a clear overview of how compounds affect beating. This facilitates quick decision-making and accelerates the drug development process.

Sensitive, high-resolution readouts from CiliaBeat software – ciliary beat frequency histogram depicting the average frequency and heatmap showing cilia distribution with color-coded frequency
Disease-like conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Close Open

COPD-like in vivo conditions can be replicated with the treatment of the lung SAEC model with IL-13 and the cilia beat frequency analysed to predict clinical translation of drug efficacy.  

Validation of COPD-like conditions is demonstrated by changes in percentage area covered by active cilia and ciliary beat frequency due to IL-13 treatment of SAEC cultures is demonstrated through the (A) heatmaps and (B) ciliary beat frequency (C) Percentage area covered by active cilia and (D) Integrated Cilia activity with changing IL-13 concentrations generated using CiliaBeat software
Compound efficacy testing Close Open

Bronchodilator compounds like Procaterol (a β2-adrenergic receptor agonist) can be tested to measure their impact on ciliary beat frequency and the percentage of active cilia. This helps determine their effectiveness in reversing COPD-like conditions modeled with IL-13.

Dataset showing effect of Procaterol on IL-13 treated SAECs A) Heatmaps showing increase in percentage area covered by active cilia and ciliary beat frequency with Procaterol dose B) Increasing CBF with time C) and D) Increase in percentage area covered by active cilia and beat frequency with change in Procaterol concentration
Analysis of compound with rapid effect Close Open

High-speed imaging and data acquisition enables the analysis of compounds that have a rapid effect on ciliary beating. Drug molecules like Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) that impact ciliary beating within seconds of treatment initiation can be analysed using real-time tracking over a specific region of interest.

(A) Heatmaps showing increase in active cilia and ciliary beat frequency with time (B) Increase in average ciliary beat frequency post-treatment with ATP

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Assess the effect of drugs and airborne chemicals on the function of cilia in the small airways

New Ciliary Beat Frequency Assay launched! For small airway epithelium cells.

Get rapid and comprehensive compound efficacy & safety evaluation with increased sensitivity for confident decision-making. Enquire today about how this assay can bring you more insights!

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