What is the structure and function of ciliated epilthelium cells?
Airway mucosa consists of several types of cells including ciliated cells, mucus secreting cells, basal cells and Clara cells. In this review, fine structures of these epithelial cells and intercellular junctions are demonstrated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and the proposed kinetics of cellular maturation and development are discussed. Airway epithelium not only plays a role as a mechanical barrier at the air-surface interface but also possesses a wide variety of functions. Ciliary beating has been recognized to be one of the important determinants for mucociliary transport by clearing inhaled particles and bacteria from the airway. We found that the motility of cilia can be regulated by intracellular second messengers, such as Ca2+, cAMP, and protein kinase C. When ciliated epithelium is encountered by physicochemical stimuli, these signal transduction systems are activated through phosphatidylinositol turnover and/or Ca2+ channel opening, which subsequently modu
