Less Is More: Rare Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cells Function as Critical Sensors in Lung

Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) are rare airway epithelial cells that also uniquely harbor neuronal and endocrine characteristics. In vitro data indicate that these cells respond to chemical or mechanical stimuli by releasing neuropeptides and neurotransmitters, implicating them as airway sen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental cell 2020-10, Vol.55 (2), p.123-132
Main Authors: Xu, Jinhao, Yu, Haoze, Sun, Xin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Epithelial Cells - immunology
Epithelial Cells - metabolism
Epithelium - immunology
Epithelium - metabolism
Humans
Lung - immunology
Lung - metabolism
Neuroendocrine Cells - immunology
Neuroendocrine Cells - metabolism
Neuropeptides - metabolism
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Summary:Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) are rare airway epithelial cells that also uniquely harbor neuronal and endocrine characteristics. In vitro data indicate that these cells respond to chemical or mechanical stimuli by releasing neuropeptides and neurotransmitters, implicating them as airway sensors. Emerging in vivo data corroborate this role and demonstrate that PNECs are important for lung response to signals, such as allergens. With close proximity to steady-state immune cells and innervating nerves, PNECs, as prototype tissue-resident neuroendocrine cells, are at the center of a neuro-immune module that enables the fundamental ability of an organ to sense and respond to the environment.
ISSN:1534-5807
1878-1551
DOI:10.1016/j.devcel.2020.09.024