Epithelial cells interaction-review paper

Abstract

Airways are exposed to a number of inhaled toxins, pathogens, allergens, reactive gases, aerosols and irritant particles. After a lung insult, some of the epithelial cells are injured or damaged. These cells either detach or die thus disruption of cell-cell and cell-matrix interaction and also exposing the basement membrane. The normal response to the injury is a mass transportation of factors including Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM), various growth factors and inflammatory cells. The epithelial cells in the margin of the damage flatten and move to eventually cover the wound. If this repair does not occur this insult can result in a disease (Fig. 1).