title: Regulation of immunological homeostasis in the respiratory tract.
abstract: The respiratory tract has an approximate surface area of 70 m2 in adult humans, which is in virtually direct contact with the outside environment. It contains a uniquely rich vascular bed containing a large pool of marginated T cells, and harbours a layer of single-cell-thick epithelial tissue through which re-oxygenation of blood must occur uninterrupted for survival. It is therefore not surprising that the respiratory tract is never more than a short step away from disaster. We have only a partial understanding of how immunological homeostasis is maintained in these tissues, but it is becoming clear that the immune system has evolved a range of specific mechanisms to deal with the unique problems encountered in this specialized microenvironment.
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Western Australia. patrick@ichr.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Patrick G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Deborah H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wikström
authors.forename: Frode L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Jahnsen
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology