The Airway Epithelium: Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology

by Stephen G. Farmer (Editor), Douglas W.P. Hay (Editor)

In 18 contributed chapters (including one by the editors), this reference discusses molecular, biochemical, physiological, and pharmacological roles of the epithelium both in healthy and diseased airways--providing detailed descriptions of the structures and functions of different airway epithelial cells. Specifically addressed topics include epithelial abnormalities in diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and environmentally induced airway hyperresponsiveness; pulmonary endocrine cells, implicated in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and small-cell lung cancer; epithelial cells' role in tissue repair, secreting chemotactic factors for the recruitment of inflammatory cells and producing factors for their own recruitment; experimental techniques employed to study various characteristics of epithelial function; and cell-to-cell communication in mammalian airways. Extensive references. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

680 pages, Hardcover

First published August 21, 1991