Respiratory system cell types

There are over 40 different cell types in the respiratory system and those particularly susceptible are the lining cells of the trachea and bronchi, endothelial cells, and the interstitial cells (fibroblasts and fibrocytes). 

The antibody, a homocy to tropic antibody, circulates in the bloodstream, but has a high affinity for the surface of mast cells and binds to receptors on the surface (Fig. 6.31). This type of reaction, which occurs quickly after reexposure, underlies reactions in the respiratory system (asthma, rhinitis), skin (urticaria), gastrointestinal tract (food allergies), and vascular system (anaphylactic shock). Type I reactions can be severe, causing difficulty in breathing, loss of blood pressure, anoxia, edema in the respiratory tract, and bronchospasm, which may prove fatal. 

As shown in Table 18.2, there are many different cell types in the respiratory system with considerable variation in both structure and function from the nasal epithelium to the alveoli. The various cell types of the airway epithelium are shown in Figure 18.2. 

The ultimate example studied in this chapter is the mitochondrial respiratory system and oxidative ATP synthesis. This system, in which biochemical network function is tightly coupled with membrane transport, is essential to the function of nearly all eukaryotic cell types. As an example of a critically important system and an analysis that makes use of a wide range of concepts from electrophysiology to detailed network thermodynamics, this model represents a milestone in our study of living biochemical systems. To continue to build our ability to realistically simulate living systems, the following chapter covers the treatment of spatially distributed systems, such as advective transport of substances in the microcirculation and exchange of substances between the blood and tissue. 

There are over 40 different cell types in the respiratory system, and those particularly susceptible are the lining cells of trachea and bronchi, endothelial cells and the interstitial cells (fibroblasts and fibrocytes). Some toxic substances such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone cause acute, direct damage to lung tissue, whereas others, such as nickel carbonyl may lead to the formation of tumours. 

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