 club cells, also known as bronchiolar exocrine cells, and originally known as clara cells (see nomenclature section), are dome-shaped cells with short microvilli, found in the small airways (bronchioles) of the lungs. club cells are found in the ciliated simple epithelium. these cells may secrete glycosaminoglycans to protect the bronchiole lining. bronchiolar cells gradually increase in number as the number of goblet cells decrease. one of the main functions of club cells is to protect the bronchiolar epithelium. they do this by secreting a small variety of products, including club cell secretory protein uteroglobin, and a solution similar to the component of the lung surfactant. they are also responsible for detoxifying harmful substances inhaled into the lungs. club cells accomplish this with cytochrome p450 enzymes found in their smooth endoplasmic reticulum. club cells also act as a stem cell, multiplying and differentiating into ciliated cells to regenerate the bronchiolar epithelium.http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/clara+cell ==mechanism== the respiratory bronchioles represent the transition from the conducting portion to the respiratory portion of the respiratory system. the narrow channels are usually less than 2&nbsp;mm in diameter and they are lined by a simple cuboidal epithelium, consisting of ciliated cells and non-ciliated club cells, which are unique to bronchioles. in addition to being structurally diverse, club cells are also functionally variable. one major function they carry out is the synthesis and secretion of the material lining the bronchiolar lumen. this material includes glycosaminoglycans, proteins such as lysozymes, and conjugation of the secretory portion of iga antibodies. these play an important defensive role, and they also contribute to the degradation of the mucus produced by the upper airways. the heterogeneous nature of the dense granules within the club ce
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