[HTML][HTML] Mucus clearance as a primary innate defense mechanism for mammalian airways

MR Knowles, RC Boucher - The Journal of clinical …, 2002 - Am Soc Clin Investig
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2002Am Soc Clin Investig
Pulmonary defense mechanisms preventing chronic bacterial infection. The lung is depicted
as an inverted funnel, reflecting the relative surface area of distal versus proximal airways.
The mechanical-clearance-of-mucus hypothesis is shown on the left. The schema depicts
discrete mucus and periciliary liquid layers and ascribes to the epithelium a volume-
absorbing function. The chemical shield hypothesis is shown on the right, with the
epithelium depicted as having a salt-but not a volume-absorbing function to produce the …
Pulmonary defense mechanisms preventing chronic bacterial infection. The lung is depicted as an inverted funnel, reflecting the relative surface area of distal versus proximal airways. The mechanical-clearance-of-mucus hypothesis is shown on the left. The schema depicts discrete mucus and periciliary liquid layers and ascribes to the epithelium a volume-absorbing function. The chemical shield hypothesis is shown on the right, with the epithelium depicted as having a salt-but not a volume-absorbing function to produce the hypotonic ASL required for defensin activity.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation