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Series introduction: innate host defense of the respiratory epithelium
Author(s) -
Hiemstra Pieter S.,
Bals Robert
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.0903410
Subject(s) - innate immune system , biology , respiratory tract , lung , immunology , immune system , respiratory system , host (biology) , pharynx , defence mechanisms , cilium , respiratory epithelium , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , anatomy , medicine , gene , genetics
This series overviews the current knowledge of the innate‐immune system of the lung. Special emphasis is put on mechanisms used by epithelial cells of the respiratory tract to contribute to host defense. This defense function is important, as the lung is especially prone to microbial exposure. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide requires the ventilation of a large volume of environmental air that may contain respiratory pathogens. Furthermore, the digestive pathway shares with the airways the pharynx, opening another possibility for the uptake of microorganisms into the respiratory tract. Host defense is provided by a multilayered and complex system that aims to avoid colonization and infection of the lung. A classic view separates the inborn, innate‐immune system from adaptive mechanisms that involve antigen‐specific lymphocytes [1].