The airway epithelium in asthma

BN Lambrecht, H Hammad - Nature medicine, 2012 - nature.com
BN Lambrecht, H Hammad
Nature medicine, 2012nature.com
Asthma is a T lymphocyte–controlled disease of the airway wall caused by inflammation,
overproduction of mucus and airway wall remodeling leading to bronchial hyperreactivity
and airway obstruction. The airway epithelium is considered an essential controller of
inflammatory, immune and regenerative responses to allergens, viruses and environmental
pollutants that contribute to asthma pathogenesis. Epithelial cells express pattern
recognition receptors that detect environmental stimuli and secrete endogenous danger …
Abstract
Asthma is a T lymphocyte–controlled disease of the airway wall caused by inflammation, overproduction of mucus and airway wall remodeling leading to bronchial hyperreactivity and airway obstruction. The airway epithelium is considered an essential controller of inflammatory, immune and regenerative responses to allergens, viruses and environmental pollutants that contribute to asthma pathogenesis. Epithelial cells express pattern recognition receptors that detect environmental stimuli and secrete endogenous danger signals, thereby activating dendritic cells and bridging innate and adaptive immunity. Improved understanding of the epithelium's function in maintaining the integrity of the airways and its dysfunction in asthma has provided important mechanistic insight into how asthma is initiated and perpetuated and could provide a framework by which to select new therapeutic strategies that prevent exacerbations and alter the natural course of the disease.
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