Airway epithelial cells: current concepts and challenges

Ronald G Crystal; Scott H Randell; John F Engelhardt; Judith Voynow; Mary E Sunday

doi:10.1513/pats.200805-041HR

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Airway epithelial cells: current concepts and challenges

Journal article

Open access

Airway epithelial cells: current concepts and challenges

Ronald G Crystal, Scott H Randell, John F Engelhardt, Judith Voynow and Mary E Sunday

Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society, Vol.5(7), pp.772-777

09/15/2008

DOI: 10.1513/pats.200805-041HR

PMCID: PMC5820806

PMID: 18757316

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Abstract

The adult human bronchial tree is covered with a continuous layer of epithelial cells that play a critical role in maintaining the conduit for air, and which are central to the defenses of the lung against inhaled environmental concomitants. The epithelial sheet functions as an interdependent unit with the other lung components. Importantly, the structure and/or function of airway epithelium is deranged in major lung disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and bronchogenic carcinoma. Investigations regarding the airway epithelium have led to many advances over the past few decades, but new developments in genetics and stem cell/progenitor cell biology have opened the door to understanding how the airway epithelium is developed and maintained, and how it responds to environmental stress. This article provides an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding airway epithelial stem/progenitor cells, gene expression, cell-cell interactions, and less frequent cell types, and discusses the challenges for future areas of investigation regarding the airway epithelium in health and disease.

Epithelial Cells - physiology

Gene Expression

Respiratory Mucosa - cytology

Humans

Respiratory Mucosa - physiology

Stem Cells - physiology

Cell Differentiation - physiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Airway epithelial cells: current concepts and challenges
Creators: Ronald G Crystal - Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA. geneticmedicine@med.cornell.edu
Scott H Randell
John F Engelhardt
Judith Voynow
Mary E Sunday
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society, Vol.5(7), pp.772-777
DOI: 10.1513/pats.200805-041HR
PMID: 18757316
PMCID: PMC5820806
NLM abbreviation: Proc Am Thorac Soc
ISSN: 1546-3222
eISSN: 1943-5665
Publisher: United States
Grant note: P30 DK054759 / NIDDK NIH HHS R37 DK047967 / NIDDK NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 09/15/2008
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Anatomy and Cell Biology; Radiation Oncology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984025462602771

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