Three-dimensional in vitro lung model, process for preparing said model, and its use for determining and /or predicting the sensitizing effects of inhalable products

A three-dimensional in vitro alveolar lung model comprising:

• mainly the four cells types as follows:
• a) alveolar type II epithelial cells able to secrete surfactant,
• b) endothelial cells which form the inner lining of capillaries providing a permeable barrier
• c) dendritic-like cells,
• d) macrophage-like cells, able to participate to defense mechanisms by ingesting foreign materials by phagocytosis, wherein:
• said three-dimensional in vitro lung model is in the form of a culture well equipped with a porous membrane separating the well into an apical compartment exposed to an air-liquid interface, and a basolateral compartment submerged in a culture medium, said epithelial cells and said macrophages being present in the apical compartment, and said endothelial cells and said dendritic-like cells being present at the basolateral compartment and immerge in the culture medium,
• said porous membrane has pores comprised between 2 and 10 μm, allowing possible migration of the dendritic-like cells from the basolateral compartment to the apical compartment.