Epithelia protective

Cornea Stratified squamous epithelium Protects eye from injury... 

Mouth Stratified squamous epithelium Protects oral tissues... 

Skin Stratified squamous epithelium Protects body surface... 

Uterus Columnar epithelium Protects internal surfaces... 

Corneal Epithelium Protection for Dry Eye Syndrome and Other Corneal Disorders... 

Although the nose houses and protects the cells that perceive odor, it does not direcdy participate in odor perception. The primary function of the nose is to direct a stream of air into the respiratory passages. While this function is occurring, a small fraction of the inhaled air passes over the olfactory epithelium, located 5—8 cm inside the nasal passages. This olfactory area occupies about 6.45 cm (one square inch) of surface in each side of the nose. 

Odors are perceived via the olfactory system, which is composed of two organs in the nose the olfactory epithelium, a very small area in the nasal system, and the trigeminal nerve endings, which are much more widely distributed in the nasal cavity (11). The olfactory epithelium is extremely sensitive, and humans often sniff to bring more odorant in contact with this area. The trigeminal nerves initiate protective reflexes, such as sneezing or interruption of irrhalation, with exposure to noxious odorants. 

GSHPx, CAT and SOD, which normally protect cells from free-radical damage have not been detected in aqueous humour. It has therefore been su ested that damage by free radicals and hydrogen peroxide to the anterior segment is prevented by a non-enzymatic extracellular oxidoreduction system involving a constant supply of reduced glutathione to the aqueous fluid from the ciliary epithelium, cornea and lens (Riley, 1983). 

Local host defenses of both the upper and lower respiratory tract, along with the anatomy of the airways, are important in preventing infection. Upper respiratory defenses include the mucodliary apparatus of the nasopharynx, nasal hair, normal bacterial flora, IgA antibodies, and complement. Local host defenses of the lower respiratory tract include cough, mucodliary apparatus of the trachea and bronchi, antibodies (IgA, IgM, and IgG), complement, and alveolar macrophages. Mucus lines the cells of the respiratory tract, forming a protective barrier for the cells. This minimizes the ability of organisms to attach to the cells and initiate the infectious process. The squamous epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract are not ciliated, but those of the columnar epithelium of the lower tract are. The cilia beat in a uniform fashion upward, moving particles up and out of the lower respiratory tract. 

Ovulation is considered a hostile event to the ovarian epithelium, making it more susceptible to damage and cancer. Interventions or conditions that limit the number of ovulations in a woman s reproductive history will have a protective effect. For instance, multiparity would decrease the number of ovulations. 

Mucin, a viscous mucopolysaccharide that lines and protects the intestinal epithelium, has been thought to bind certain drugs nonspecifically (e.g., quarternary ammonium compounds) and thereby prevent or reduce absorption. This behavior may partially account for the erratic and incomplete absorption of such charged... 

No adverse effects were noted in the testes. The results of this study indicate that lead affected spermatozoa after release from the germinal epithelium which was possibly protected from the effects of lead by the blood-testes barrier (Barratt et al. 1989). 

The mouth is the region from the lips to the pharynx. The first step in the digestive process is chewing, or mastication, which is an initial mechanical breakdown of the food that facilitates its movement to the stomach. The mouth is lined with stratified squamous epithelium that provides extra protection from injury by coarse food materials. Three pairs of salivary glands secrete saliva into the oral cavity ... 

In summary, the in vivo protective effects of Tyv-specific antibodies, exclusion and immobility, can now be effectively studied using an in vitro model of the intestinal epithelium. Larvae are prevented from entering epithelial cells by caps of immune complexes or by binding of antibody to Tyv in the absence of immune complex formation. These effects would correlate with exclusion of larvae from epitheha observed in passively immunized rats. Larvae are encumbered as they migrate within epithelial monolayers, an effect that may correlate with immobility of larvae observed in vivo. It is reasonable to conclude that in the animal host the different effects work in combination, most iikeiy in cooperation with innate host defences, to cause nematode expuision from the intestine. 

Mucins are also thought to act in cooperation with trefoil proteins in the protection and repair of the epithelium (Kindon et al., 1995). Trefoil factors are expressed along the GI tract and increased levels are noted near sites of inflammation and ulcerative lesions (Babyatsky et al., 1996). Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that mouse intestinal trefoil factor may play a role in the alteration of the physicochemical nature of GC mucins during N. brasiliensis infection (Tomita et al., 1995). Perhaps in GI nematode parasite infection mucins are not aiding in the host s protective expulsion of the parasite, but rather are functioning in the repair of the damaged intestinal epithelium. 

Wijnholds J, deLange EC, Scheffer GL, van den Berg DJ, Mol CA, van d, V et al. Multidrug resistance protein 1 protects the choroid plexus epithelium and contributes to the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. J Clin Invest 2000 105(3)779-285. 

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