Description
Abstract:The airways are lined with a film of fluid 10 um deep that acts as the first line of defense against inhaled pathogens, dirt, and noxious vapors. Transepithelial fluid movements driven by active transepithelial ion transport serve to regulate the depth of this "airway surface liquid". In the larger airways, a mucus gel derived from both glands and surface epithelium entraps inhaled particles, which are then removed by the coordinated beating of cilia. Both glands and epithelium secrete a wide variety of antimicrobial and other protective substances in addition to mucins. Substances released across the basolateral surface of the epithelium attract leukocytes and influence neighboring tissues. Here, after reviewing the basic structure of mammalian airway epithelium, I discuss its various defensive functions and how they are altered in airway disease.
Item Description:Electronic resource.
Part of: Colloquium digital library of life sciences.
Series from website.
Physical Description:1 online resource (viii, 175 pages) : illustrations
Also available in printing.
Format:Mode of access: World Wide Web.
System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references (pages 113-173).
ISBN:9781615043750 (electronic bk.)
ISSN:2154-5626 ;
DOI:10.4199/C00063ED1V01Y201206ISP036
Access:Abstract freely available; full-text restricted to subscribers or individual document purchasers.