Regulation of immune responses by the airway epithelial cell landscape

Nat Rev Immunol. 2021 Jun;21(6):347-362. doi: 10.1038/s41577-020-00477-9. Epub 2021 Jan 13.

Abstract

The community of cells lining our airways plays a collaborative role in the preservation of immune homeostasis in the lung and provides protection from the pathogens and pollutants in the air we breathe. In addition to its structural attributes that provide effective mucociliary clearance of the lower airspace, the airway epithelium is an immunologically active barrier surface that senses changes in the airway environment and interacts with resident and recruited immune cells. Single-cell RNA-sequencing is illuminating the cellular heterogeneity that exists in the airway wall and has identified novel cell populations with unique molecular signatures, trajectories of differentiation and diverse functions in health and disease. In this Review, we discuss how our view of the airway epithelial landscape has evolved with the advent of transcriptomic approaches to cellular phenotyping, with a focus on epithelial interactions with the local neuronal and immune systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • Cellular Microenvironment / genetics
  • Cellular Microenvironment / immunology
  • Circadian Rhythm / genetics
  • Circadian Rhythm / immunology
  • Epithelial Cells / classification
  • Epithelial Cells / immunology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Genetic Markers
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Mice
  • Models, Immunological*
  • Neuroendocrine Cells / immunology
  • Neuroendocrine Cells / metabolism
  • Neuroimmunomodulation
  • RNA-Seq
  • Respiratory Mucosa / cytology
  • Respiratory Mucosa / immunology*
  • Respiratory Mucosa / metabolism
  • Single-Cell Analysis

Substances

  • Genetic Markers