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Cells
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The Role of Airway Epithelial Cells in Health and Disease
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The Role of Airway Epithelial Cells in Health and Disease

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 9763

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Michael Gray

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biosciences Institute, University Medical School, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
Interests: epithelial ion transport; ion channels and transporters; cell signaling; pH regulation; cystic fibrosis; pancreatitis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Carlos A. Flores

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro de Estudios Científicos and Universidad San Sebastián, Valdivia, Chile
Interests: epithelial ion transport; ion channels and transporters; muco-obstructive diseases; airways; intestine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is well established that the airway epithelium provides more than just a physical barrier that protects the body from inhaled pathogens. Airway epithelial cells are crucial for actively maintaining airway surface liquid homeostasis, mucociliary transport, antigen processing, and pathogen sensing, to give just a few examples. A better understanding of the myriad roles played by airway epithelial cells has been accelerated in recent years by the identification of distinct epithelial cell populations that constitute, and are resident in, the human airways, primarily driven by advances in single-cell RNA sequencing. This information has also been crucial in defining epithelial cell lineage and differentiation, as well as identifying rarer epithelial cells such as the ionocyte. Despite all that we have learned, many questions remain. For example, what is the functional role of rarer epithelial cells (ionocyte, brush and PNEC) in airways physiology, and do they interact with more abundant epithelial cells, such as secretory and multiciliated cells, alveolar and/or non-epithelial cells? If they do, how do they interact, and what are the implications for normal airway function and disease pathogenesis? Which epithelial cells should we target for the treatment of common airway diseases, and what about during tissue repair after infection? What is the importance of the differences in epithelial cellular heterogeneity and gene expression along the proximal to distal airways, and what are the consequences for airway disease and its treatment? 

The purpose of this Special issue is to highlight the important role played by distinct types of airway epithelial cells, and how this information is being harnessed to develop new therapeutic strategies for important diseases such as cystic fibrosis, COVID-19, asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. The goal of this Issue is to provide a broad scope that includes research papers and reviews related to the functional roles of epithelial cells in airway health and disease.

Dr. Michael Gray
Dr. Carlos A. Flores
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • airway epithelial cell types
  • airway homeostasis
  • airway defense
  • mucociliary transport
  • ionocytes
  • brush cells
  • basal cells
  • alveolar cells
  • chronic lung disease
  • epithelial repair

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2112 KiB  
Article
A Novel Co-Culture Model Reveals Enhanced CFTR Rescue in Primary Cystic Fibrosis Airway Epithelial Cultures with Persistent Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection
by Deborah M. Cholon, Matthew A. Greenwald, Matthew G. Higgs, Nancy L. Quinney, Susan E. Boyles, Suzanne L. Meinig, John T. Minges, Ashlesha Chaubal, Robert Tarran, Carla M. P. Ribeiro, Matthew C. Wolfgang and Martina Gentzsch
Cells 2023, 12(22), 2618; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12222618 - 13 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2620
Abstract
People with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) suffer from chronic and recurring bacterial lung infections that begin very early in life and contribute to progressive lung failure. CF is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes an [...] Read more.
People with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) suffer from chronic and recurring bacterial lung infections that begin very early in life and contribute to progressive lung failure. CF is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes an ion channel important for maintaining the proper hydration of pulmonary surfaces. When CFTR function is ablated or impaired, airways develop thickened, adherent mucus that contributes to a vicious cycle of infection and inflammation. Therapeutics for pwCF, called CFTR modulators, target the CFTR defect directly, restoring airway surface hydration and mucociliary clearance. However, even with CFTR modulator therapy, bacterial infections persist. To develop a relevant model of diseased airway epithelium, we established a primary human airway epithelium culture system with persistent Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. We used this model to examine the effects of CFTR modulators on CFTR maturation, CFTR function, and bacterial persistence. We found that the presence of P. aeruginosa increased CFTR mRNA, protein, and function. We also found that CFTR modulators caused a decrease in P. aeruginosa burden. These results demonstrate the importance of including live bacteria to accurately model the CF lung, and that understanding the effects of infection on CFTR rescue by CFTR modulators is critical to evaluating and optimizing drug therapies for all pwCF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Airway Epithelial Cells in Health and Disease)
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20 pages, 5897 KiB  
Article
The Impact of CC16 on Pulmonary Epithelial-Driven Host Responses during Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection in Mouse Tracheal Epithelial Cells
by Natalie Iannuzo, Alane Blythe C. Dy, Stefano Guerra, Paul R. Langlais and Julie G. Ledford
Cells 2023, 12(15), 1984; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12151984 - 1 Aug 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1930
Abstract
Club Cell Secretory Protein (CC16) plays many protective roles within the lung; however, the complete biological functions, especially regarding the pulmonary epithelium during infection, remain undefined. We have previously shown that CC16-deficient (CC16−/−) mouse tracheal epithelial cells (MTECs) have enhanced Mp [...] Read more.
Club Cell Secretory Protein (CC16) plays many protective roles within the lung; however, the complete biological functions, especially regarding the pulmonary epithelium during infection, remain undefined. We have previously shown that CC16-deficient (CC16−/−) mouse tracheal epithelial cells (MTECs) have enhanced Mp burden compared to CC16-sufficient (WT) MTECs; therefore, in this study, we wanted to further define how the pulmonary epithelium responds to infection in the context of CC16 deficiency. Using mass spectrometry and quantitative proteomics to analyze proteins secreted apically from MTECs grown at an air–liquid interface, we investigated the protective effects that CC16 elicits within the pulmonary epithelium during Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) infection. When challenged with Mp, WT MTECs have an overall reduction in apical protein secretion, whereas CC16−/− MTECs have increased apical protein secretion compared to their unchallenged controls. Following Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) assessment, many of the proteins upregulated from CC16−/− MTECS (unchallenged and during Mp infection) were related to airway remodeling, which were not observed by WT MTECs. These findings suggest that CC16 may be important in providing protection within the pulmonary epithelium during respiratory infection with Mp, which is the major causative agent of community-acquired pneumoniae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Airway Epithelial Cells in Health and Disease)
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Review

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15 pages, 1387 KiB  
Review
Inflammation as a Regulator of the Airway Surface Liquid pH in Cystic Fibrosis
by Tayyab Rehman and Michael J. Welsh
Cells 2023, 12(8), 1104; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12081104 - 7 Apr 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4314
Abstract
The airway surface liquid (ASL) is a thin sheet of fluid that covers the luminal aspect of the airway epithelium. The ASL is a site of several first-line host defenses, and its composition is a key factor that determines respiratory fitness. Specifically, the [...] Read more.
The airway surface liquid (ASL) is a thin sheet of fluid that covers the luminal aspect of the airway epithelium. The ASL is a site of several first-line host defenses, and its composition is a key factor that determines respiratory fitness. Specifically, the acid–base balance of ASL has a major influence on the vital respiratory defense processes of mucociliary clearance and antimicrobial peptide activity against inhaled pathogens. In the inherited disorder cystic fibrosis (CF), loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel function reduces HCO3− secretion, lowers the pH of ASL (pHASL), and impairs host defenses. These abnormalities initiate a pathologic process whose hallmarks are chronic infection, inflammation, mucus obstruction, and bronchiectasis. Inflammation is particularly relevant as it develops early in CF and persists despite highly effective CFTR modulator therapy. Recent studies show that inflammation may alter HCO3− and H+ secretion across the airway epithelia and thus regulate pHASL. Moreover, inflammation may enhance the restoration of CFTR channel function in CF epithelia exposed to clinically approved modulators. This review focuses on the complex relationships between acid–base secretion, airway inflammation, pHASL regulation, and therapeutic responses to CFTR modulators. These factors have important implications for defining optimal ways of tackling CF airway inflammation in the post-modulator era. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Airway Epithelial Cells in Health and Disease)
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