Open AccessDifferences and similarities between the upper and lower airway: focusing on innate immunity
Author(s) -
HyungJu Cho,
Jong Gyun Ha,
S.N. Lee,
Chang Hoon Kim,
D.-Y. Wang,
Joo Heon Yoon
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
rhinology (amsterdam. online)/rhinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.275
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1996-8604
pISSN - 0300-0729
DOI - 10.4193/rhin21.046
Subject(s) - innate immune system , immune system , respiratory tract , nose , immunology , medicine , airway , acquired immune system , immunity , respiratory epithelium , respiratory system , anatomy , surgery
The nose is the first respiratory barrier to external pathogens, allergens, pollutants, or cigarette smoke, and vigorous immune responses are triggered when external pathogens come in contact with the nasal epithelium. The mucosal epithelial cells of the nose are essential to the innate immune response against external pathogens and transmit signals that modulate the adaptive immune response. The upper and lower airways share many physiological and immunological features, but there are also numerous differences. It is crucial to understand these differences and their contribution to pathophysiology in order to optimize treatments for inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract. This review summarizes important differences in the embryological development, histological features, microbiota, immune responses, and cellular subtypes of mucosal epithelial cells of the nose and lungs.