The use of alveolar epithelial type I cell-selective markers to investigate lung injury and repair.
Alveolar epithelial type I cells cover most of the internal surface area of the lungs. Ultrastructural studies demonstrate that alveolar epithelial type I cell damage is frequently observed in acute and chronic lung diseases. This article discusses the use of cell-selective proteins as markers for the investigation of injury and repair of the alveolar epithelium. The utility of proteins specific to alveolar epithelial type I cells as diagnostic markers of alveolar epithelial injury in acute lung injury is considered, and expression of proteins selective for alveolar epithelial type I cells in lungs following injury and in fibrosis are discussed.
MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, School of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK. mmcelroy@ed.ac.uk
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McElroy
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Kasper
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D011506:Proteins