Fig 1. Schematic overview of experimental methods for reconstruction of pleura by using a three-dimensional collagen gel culture.

Human pleural fibroblasts (HPF) (a) and human pleural mesothelial cells (HPMC) (b) were isolated and placed into culture flasks. A single cell suspension of fibroblasts obtained from confluent monolayers was passaged and cultivated in a type I collagen gel matrix. After the solidification mesothelial cells were placed on the gel matrix to build up a three-dimensional pleura-like structure (c).