Year: 2022
Type: review
Abstract: Pulmonary emphysema is characterized by the destruction of alveolar septa and irreversible airflow limitation. Cigarette smoking is the primary cause of this disease development. It induces oxidative stress and disturbs lung physiology and tissue homeostasis. Alveolar type II (ATII) cells have stem cell potential and can repair the denuded epithelium after injury; however, their dysfunction is evident in emphysema. There is no effective treatment available for this disease. Challenges in this field involve the large complexity of lung pathophysiological processes and gaps in our knowledge on the mechanisms of emphysema progression. It implicates dysregulation of various signaling pathways, including aberrant inflammatory and oxidative responses, defective antioxidant defense system, surfactant dysfunction, altered proteostasis, disrupted circadian rhythms, mitochondrial damage, increased cell senescence, apoptosis, and abnormal proliferation and differentiation. Also, genetic predispositions are involved in this disease development. Here, we comprehensively review studies regarding dysregulated cell signaling, especially in ATII cells, and their contribution to alveolar wall destruction in emphysema. Relevant preclinical and clinical interventions are also described.
Source: Frontiers in Medicine
Authors: Chih-Ru Lin, Karim Bahmed, Beata Kosmider
Institution: Temple University
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,950
Awards: Regulation of alveolar epithelial regeneration by T cells, EXOSOMES AS POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC TARGETS IN GULF WAR ILLNESS., THE ROLE OF TRAF6 IN PRIMARY ALVEOLAR EPITHELIAL CELL INJURY, G4010414090, G4142068631, G4795341623, G5303048665, Regulation of lung epithelium regeneration, Alveolar epithelial cell dysfunction induced by flavored e-cigarette aerosols, Cigarette smoke influences alveolar type II cell-derived exosomes, G6367822613, G6784531071, G7641848566
OpenAlex ID: W4206676572