These models have also been utilized for study the pathogenesis of microbial and pollutant injury. The respiratory tract is the organ of the human body with the largest area exposed to the environment. Colonization of the surface of the respiratory tract is required by most microbial agents to gain entrance into the blood stream and internal organs of the body. The most common cell type in the respiratory epithelium of conducting airways is the ciliated cell. We are studying the differentiation of this cell with special emphasis on ciliogenesis.
Cilia possess the protein motor dynein responsible for their movement and the mucociliary escalator.
The ciliated cell is the target cell of many microbial agents. Monoclonal antibodies to dynein are being utilized to see if repair following injury recapitulates development. We have reported that children develop acquired ciliary defects in the axonemes following viral infections. This may interfere with normal mucociliary clearance leading to blockage with resultant sinusitis, otitis media or pneumonia. We have also done studies on the effects of environmental air pollutants on the respiratory tracts of children.