Models for the study of nasal and sinus physiology in health and disease: A review of the literature

OBJECTIVE: Chronic sinusitis is a very common yet poorly understood medical condition with significant morbidity. Hence, it remains an entity that is difficult to treat with unsatisfactory outcomes of current management options. This necessitates research into the etiology and pathophysiology of the condition to enhance our knowledge and the therapeutic options. Unfortunately, this kind of research is not always feasible on human subjects due to practical and ethical limitations. Therefore, an alternative model that simulates the disease had to be found in order to overcome these limitations. These models could either be in vivo or in vitro. The aim of our review is to summarize the research findings and key discoveries of both in vivo and in vitro models of chronic sinusitis that have enhanced our understanding of the condition today and have paved the way for the future research of tomorrow. Data Sources: PubMed literature review. METHODS: A review of the literature was conducted to identify the main successful in vivo and in vitro models for chronic sinusitis. RESULTS: Creating a successful model for chronic sinusitis is no easy task. Over the years, both in vivo animal models and in vitro tissue culture models were proposed, with each model having its accolades and pitfalls, with the ideal model remaining elusive to this day. However, advancing three‐dimensional cell culturing techniques seems to be a promising new way to find a more accurate model. CONCLUSION: None of the current models is perfect for a thorough study of chronic sinusitis. However, three‐dimensional cell cultures have the potential to bridge the gap between in vivo and in vitro studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA