Airway basal cell

Airway basal cells are found deep in the respiratory epithelium, attached to, and lining the basement membrane.[1]

Basal cells are the stem cells or progenitors of the airway epithelium and can differentiate to replenish all of the epithelial cells including the ciliated cells, and secretory goblet cells.[2][3] This repairs the protective functions of the epithelial barrier.[3]

Basal cells are cuboidal with a large nucleus, few organelles, and scattered microvilli. [1] Basal cells are the first cells to be affected by exposure to cigarette smoke. Their disorganisation is seen to be responsible for the major airway changes that are characteristic of COPD.[4]

  1. ^ a b Crystal, RG (15 December 2014). "Airway basal cells. The "smoking gun" of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease". American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 190 (12): 1355–62. doi:10.1164/rccm.201408-1492PP. PMC 4299651. PMID 25354273.
  2. ^ Weinberger, S (2019). Principles of pulmonary medicine (Seventh ed.). Elsevier. p. 67. ISBN 9780323523714.
  3. ^ a b Shaykhiev, R (October 2015). "Multitasking basal cells: combining stem cell and innate immune duties". The European Respiratory Journal. 46 (4): 894–7. doi:10.1183/13993003.00521-2015. PMC 4732698. PMID 26424520.
  4. ^ Shaykhiev, R; Crystal, RG (December 2014). "Early events in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking-induced reprogramming of airway epithelial basal progenitor cells". Annals of the American Thoracic Society. 11 (Suppl 5): S252-8. doi:10.1513/AnnalsATS.201402-049AW. PMC 4298974. PMID 25525728.