Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 1, 2026
06:27
Author Spotlight: Modeling Human Airway Remodeling and Viral Responses Using Isogenic Epithelial, Endothelial, and Immune Cells
Published on: December 6, 2024
1.7K
Epithelial cells: liaisons of immunity
Samantha B Larsen1, Christopher J Cowley2, Elaine Fuchs2
1Robin Chemers Neustein Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; New York University School of Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Current Opinion in Immunology
|December 25, 2019
Summary
Epithelial cells form barriers and alert the immune system. These cells also develop an epigenetic memory after inflammation, enhancing their response to future stress.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Epithelial tissues form critical structural barriers against environmental threats like microbes and toxins.
- Epithelial cells possess mechanisms to detect surface disturbances and signal the immune system to maintain barrier integrity.
- Recent findings indicate epithelial cells can 'learn' from inflammatory exposures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on epithelial cell sensing of external signals.
- To explore how epithelial cells transmit information to immune cells.
- To discuss the concept of epigenetic memory in epithelial stem cells following inflammatory events.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature.
- Analysis of signaling pathways between epithelial cells and immune cells.
- Examination of epigenetic modifications in epithelial stem cells.
Main Results:
- Epithelial cells actively sense and respond to a wide range of external stimuli.
- Epithelial cells initiate communication with immune cells to coordinate defense and repair.
- Inflammatory exposures induce long-lasting epigenetic changes in epithelial stem cells, creating a 'memory' of the event.
Conclusions:
- Epithelial cells play a dynamic role in host defense through sensing, signaling, and memory formation.
- Epigenetic memory in epithelial stem cells allows for an enhanced, faster response to subsequent stresses.
- Understanding this epithelial memory mechanism is crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies for barrier-related diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Epithelial Tissues and Their Functions
37.1K
Epithelial tissues are large sheets of cells covering all of the surfaces of the body. These surfaces can be internal or external, for example, skin, airways, the digestive tract, the urinary system, and the reproductive system. Hollow organs and body cavities that do not connect to the body's exterior, including blood vessels and serous membranes, are lined by epithelial tissue known as the endothelium.
Epithelial tissues provide the body's first line of protection from physical,...
Epithelial tissues provide the body's first line of protection from physical,...
37.1K
01:18Lymphoid Cells and Tissues
2.7K
Lymphoid cells and tissues are integral to the immune system, which is crucial in maintaining our body's defense against harmful pathogens. They form the building blocks of lymphoid organs, which include the spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes.
Lymphoid cells consist of various types of immune system cells. These include B and T lymphocytes, which are responsible for producing antibodies and killing infected cells, respectively. Dendritic cells act as messengers between the innate and adaptive...
Lymphoid cells consist of various types of immune system cells. These include B and T lymphocytes, which are responsible for producing antibodies and killing infected cells, respectively. Dendritic cells act as messengers between the innate and adaptive...
2.7K
01:40Cell-mediated Immune Responses
83.1K
Overview
83.1K
01:22Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Overview
19.5K
Epithelial tissues are classified according to the shape of the cells and the number of cell layers formed. Cell shapes can be squamous (flattened and thin), cuboidal (square-like, as wide as it is tall), or columnar (rectangular, taller than it is wide). Additionally, the nucleus shape helps identify the type of epithelial cells. Squamous cells have flattened disc-shaped nuclei, cuboidal cells have spherical nuclei, and columnar cells have elongated nuclei.
Based on the number of cell layers,...
Based on the number of cell layers,...
19.5K
01:15Secondary Lymphoid Organs
8.7K
Secondary organs, including lymph nodes, the spleen, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), work harmoniously to protect us from disease and infection.
The spleen is a vital organ in the lymphatic system, nestled in the upper left side of the abdomen. It is composed of two primary regions: the red pulp and the white pulp, each having distinct functions. The red pulp performs a significant role in blood filtration. It efficiently purges the blood of old or damaged red blood cells and...
The spleen is a vital organ in the lymphatic system, nestled in the upper left side of the abdomen. It is composed of two primary regions: the red pulp and the white pulp, each having distinct functions. The red pulp performs a significant role in blood filtration. It efficiently purges the blood of old or damaged red blood cells and...
8.7K
01:22Antigen Presenting Cells
2.8K
The immune system is a complex network of cells and molecules that protects the body from foreign invaders. T cells, a type of white blood cell, play a crucial role in this process. They recognize and attack foreign substances, such as pathogens, that enter the body.
T cells require the help of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which process foreign antigens into smaller fragments that can be recognized by T cells. These APCs are highly specialized cells that efficiently internalize antigens...
T cells require the help of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which process foreign antigens into smaller fragments that can be recognized by T cells. These APCs are highly specialized cells that efficiently internalize antigens...
2.8K