Normal Human Bronchial Epithelium

Lung resistance protein Lung resistance protein (LRP) is expressed in normal human bronchial epithelium (NHBE) as well as in other tissues potentially exposed to toxins [104], LRP was reported to be expressed in both Calu-3 cells [105] and 16HBE14o- model [70], However, the role of LRP in different cellular locations is not clear to date. 

In immunolocalization studies of ciliated epithelium, Ron was detected in nasal and bronchial epithelium and in normal oviduct (Sakamoto et al., 1997). Primary cultures of normal human bronchial epithelium expressed Ron as assessed by flow cytometry and bound MSP with a Kd of 0.5 nM. MSP caused tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor. Ron and Met were both expressed in ciliated bronchial epithelium, the latter in a basolateral location, the former at the apical surface just below the base of the cilia. This led to the finding that MSP caused a transient increase of about 20% in the ciliary beat frequency of nasal mucosal cells. In view of Ron mRNA expression in sperm and MSP mRNA in epithelium of epididymis (Ohshiro et al., 1996), the authors suggest a possible role for MSP in sperm motility as well as in mucociliary transport. 

Wu X, Xiao Z, Chen Z, Li C, Li J, Feng X, et al. Differential analysis of two-dimension gel electrophoresis profiles from the normal-metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma tissue of human bronchial epithelium. Pathol Int 2004 54(10) 765-773. 

Takizawa H., Ohtoshi, T., Kawasaki, S., Kohyama, T., Sato, M., Tanaka, M., Kasama, T., Kobayashi, K., Nakajima, J., and Ito, K. (1997). Erythromycin modulates IL-8 expression in human bronchial epithelial cells Studies with normal and inflamed airway epithelium. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 156, 266-271. 

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