Research Elucidates Way Lungs Fight Bacteria And Prevent Infection
Thursday, January 29, 2009 - 09:29
in Health & Medicine
Airway epithelial cells initiate an immune response to inhaled bacteria by signaling for white blood cells to move from the bloodstream into the lungs and airway to fight potential infection. Researchers have demonstrated that this signaling cascade includes the activation of epithelial proteases, a type of enzyme capable of opening the junctions between the cells in the airway mucosa, to enable the white blood cells to get through to the site of the infection.