3d Cell Cultures: Prospects for Use in Virology

Abstract

As a rule, traditional methods of cell cultivation invitro using monolayer cell lines (2Dcultivation) are unable to simulate the structural organization of a three-dimensional (3D) cell network invivo and are insufficient for modeling living tissues to study intercellular signaling, proliferation, differentiation, gene and protein expression, reactions to various stimuli and drug metabolism. Using 2Dcultivation, it is impossible to adequately reproduce a virus-host cell interaction and disease pathogenesis at the level of individual tissues. The technological platform for obtaining the most reliable results is 3Dcell cultivation. Based on the analysis of scientific literature contained in the main databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Google Scholar and RSCI), our review provides a brief description of various types of 3Dcultures, as well as methods for their production and viability maintenance. The modern prospects of their use in virological research are discussed. The main aspects for application of 3D-cultures are analyzed: isolation, cultivation and study of mechanisms for virus reproduction, virus-host interaction, the study of immunopathogenesis and epidemiological prognosis of viral infections. The possibilities of 3Dcultures for production and testing of vaccines, antiviral drugs, and, generally, for choosing a treatment strategy of viral infections are analyzed. In addition to the advantages and prospects of using 3D-cell cultures in virology, their disadvantages are also assessed. Special attention is devoted to such exvivo 3D systems, as organoids and "organ on a chip", which largely meet the requirements of laboratory models in virological research. The hallmark characteristics of organoids is imitation of tissue organization, functionality and genetic specificity in a specific tissue or part of an organ. This approach allows to markedly increase model sensitivity for virus isolation. The review analyzes the data from numerous studies concerning the use of organoids to examine human and animal viruses, which display affinity for certain tissues and the data on assessing the features of immunopathogenesis behind respiratory viral infections.