Figure 1.

Experimental design to investigate the impact of acute smoke exposure on small airway epithelial cells. Basal cells from primary small airway epithelial cells (SAECs) isolated from lungs of healthy controls (n = 3) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (n = 3) were expanded in vitro and differentiated on air–liquid interface (ALI) conditions into a pseudostratified epithelium. Characterization and investigation of acute cigarette smoke exposure (4 days) on the different SAEC populations were performed by single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), flow cytometry and transepithelial electrical resistance measurement.