title: Respiratory epithelial cells orchestrate pulmonary innate immunity.
abstract: The epithelial surfaces of the lungs are in direct contact with the environment and are subjected to dynamic physical forces as airway tubes and alveoli are stretched and compressed during ventilation. Mucociliary clearance in conducting airways, reduction of surface tension in the alveoli, and maintenance of near sterility have been accommodated by the evolution of a multi-tiered innate host-defense system. The biophysical nature of pulmonary host defenses are integrated with the ability of respiratory epithelial cells to respond to and 'instruct' the professional immune system to protect the lungs from infection and injury.
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Institute, Division of Neonatology, Division of Perinatal Biology and Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Whitsett
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alenghat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D009077:Mucins / Q000276:immunology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D009077:Mucins