The concept of an alternative pathway of macrophage activation has stimulated interest in its
definition, mechanism, and functional significance in homeostasis and disease. We assess …

Pulmonary defense against environmental injury depends on airway mucus, which traps
inhaled toxins that are then cleared from the lungs by ciliary beating and cough. This review …

Muco-obstructive lung diseases are typically associated with high risks of COVID-19
severity; however, allergic asthma showed reduced susceptibility. To investigate viral …

The application of recently developed sensitive, specific, culture-independent tools for
identification of microbes is transforming concepts of microbial ecology, including concepts …

Lung epithelial cells are increasingly recognized to be active effectors of microbial defense,
contributing to both innate and adaptive immune function in the lower respiratory tract. As …

The physiology and pathology of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts are closely
related. This similarity between the two organs may underlie why dysfunction in one organ …

Increasing awareness of the role of intestinal commensal bacteria in the development and
modulation of the immune system has led to great interest in the therapeutic potential of …

Macrophages are the most abundant immune cell population in normal lung tissue and
serve critical roles in innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the development of …

Airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC) remodeling contributes to the structural changes in the
airways that are central to the clinical manifestations of asthma. Ca 2+ signals play an …

Mucosal epithelium functions not only as a physical barrier, but also as a regulator of innate
and adaptive immune responses against foreign substances and microorganisms. In …