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Progenitor Cells in Proximal Airway Epithelial Development and Regeneration
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Progenitor Cells in Proximal Airway Epithelial Development and Regeneration

Thomas J Lynch and John F Engelhardt
Journal of cellular biochemistry, Vol.115(10), pp.1637-1645
10/2014
DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24834
PMCID: PMC4428157
PMID: 24818588
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/4428157View
Open Access

Abstract

Multiple distinct epithelial domains are found throughout the airway that are distinguishable by location, structure, function, and cell-type composition. Several progenitor cell populations in the proximal airway have been identified to reside in confined microenvironmental niches including the submucosal glands (SMGs), which are embedded in the tracheal connective tissue between the surface epithelium and cartilage, and basal cells that reside within the surface airway epithelium (SAE). Current research suggests that regulatory pathways that coordinate development of the proximal airway and establishment of progenitor cell niches may overlap with pathways that control progenitor cell responses during airway regeneration following injury. SMGs have been shown to harbor epithelial progenitor cells, and this niche is dysregulated in diseases such as cystic fibrosis. However, mechanisms that regulate progenitor cell proliferation and maintenance within this glandular niche are not completely understood. Here we discuss glandular progenitor cells during development and regeneration of the proximal airway and compare properties of glandular progenitors to those of basal cell progenitors in the SAE. Further investigation into glandular progenitor cell control will provide a direction for interrogating therapeutic interventions to correct aberrant conditions affecting the SMGs in diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, and asthma.
TRACHEA Wot SIGNALING STEM CELLS SUBMUCOSAL GLANDS RESPIRATORY EPITHELIUM

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