Book chapter
Innate Immune Functions of the Airway Epithelium
Trends in Innate Immunity, pp.147-163
Contributions to Microbiology, S. Karger AG
06/2008
DOI: 10.1159/000136349
PMID: 18511860
Abstract
The epithelium of the respiratory tract forms a large surface area that maintains intimate contact with the environment. Through the act of breathing, this mucosal surface encounters an array of pathogens and toxic particulates. In response to these challenges many strategies have evolved to protect the host. These include the barrier functions of the epithelium, cough, mucociliary clearance, resident professional phagocytes, and the secretion of a number of proteins and peptides with host defense functions. Thus, the surface and submucosal gland epithelium of the conducting airways is a constitutive primary participant in innate immunity. In addition, this tissue may serve the function of a secondary amplifier of innate immune responses following neurohumoral input, stimulation with cytokines from cells such as alveolar macrophages, or engagement of pattern recognition receptors. Here, we provide an overview of the airway epithelium’s role in pulmonary innate immunity, especially in the context of bacterial and viral infections, emphasizing findings from human cells and selected animal models. We also provide examples of human disease states caused by impaired epithelial defenses in the lung.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Innate Immune Functions of the Airway Epithelium
- Creators
- Jennifer A Bartlett - Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology, and the Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USAAnthony J Fischer - Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology, and the Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USAPaul B McCray Jr - Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology, and the Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Contributors
- A Egesten (Editor)A Schmidt (Editor)H Herwald (Editor)
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Publication Details
- Trends in Innate Immunity, pp.147-163
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG; Basel, Switzerland
- Series
- Contributions to Microbiology
- DOI
- 10.1159/000136349
- PMID
- 18511860
- eISSN
- 1662-291X
- ISSN
- 1420-9519
- Number of pages
- 17
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/2008
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology; Pulmonary Medicine; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984093373802771
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