title: Barrier function of airway tract epithelium.
abstract: Airway epithelium contributes significantly to the barrier function of airway tract. Mucociliary escalator, intercellular apical junctional complexes which regulate paracellular permeability and antimicrobial peptides secreted by the airway epithelial cells are the three primary components of barrier function of airway tract. These three components act cooperatively to clear inhaled pathogens, allergens and particulate matter without inducing inflammation and maintain tissue homeostasis. Therefore impairment of one or more of these essential components of barrier function may increase susceptibility to infection and promote exaggerated and prolonged innate immune responses to environmental factors including allergens and pathogens resulting in chronic inflammation. Here we review the regulation of components of barrier function with respect to chronic airways diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases; University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, MI USA.
authors.forename: Shyamala
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganesan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases; University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, MI USA.
authors.forename: Adam T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Comstock
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases; University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, MI USA.
authors.forename: Uma S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Sajjan
keywords: COPD; airway epithelium; antimicrobial peptides; asthma; mucociliary clearance; tight junctions