The prevalence of food allergies has reached epidemic levels but the cause remains largely
unknown. We discuss the clinical relevance of the gut mucosal barrier as a site for allergic …

Goblet cells are specialized epithelial cells that are essential to the formation of the mucus
barriers in the airways and intestines. Armed with an arsenal of defenses, goblet cells can …

Mucus protects the epithelial cells of the digestive and respiratory tracts from pathogens and
other hazards. Progress in determining the molecular mechanisms of mucus barrier function …

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the
United States and is primarily caused by cigarette smoking. Increased numbers of mucus …

Simple Summary This commentary focuses on the methods currently available to test the
efficacy and safety of new orally inhaled drugs for the treatment of uncurable respiratory …

Airway mucus is a hydrogel with unique biophysical properties due to its primary water
composition and a small proportion of large anionic glycoproteins or mucins. The …

Silicosis is a fatal occupational lung disease which currently has no effective clinical cure.
Recent studies examining the underlying mechanism of silicosis have primarily examined …

The nasal epithelium represents the first line of defense against inhaled pathogens,
allergens, and irritants and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of a spectrum of acute and …

Mucus provides a protective barrier that is crucial for host defense in the lungs. However,
excessive or abnormal mucus can have pathophysiological consequences in many …

In vitro studies play an important role in supporting the toxicological assessment of e-
cigarettes, with many current methods reliant on sophisticated in vitro exposure systems …