Regulation of immune responses by the airway epithelial cell landscape

The community of cells lining our airways plays a collaborative role in the preservation of immune homeostasis in the lung and provides protection from the pathogens and pollutants in the air we breathe. In addition to its structural attributes that provide effective mucociliary clearance of the lower airspace, the airway epithelium is an immunologically active barrier surface that senses changes in the airway environment and interacts with resident and recruited immune cells. Single-cell RNA-sequencing is illuminating the cellular heterogeneity that exists in the airway wall and has identified novel cell populations with unique molecular signatures, trajectories of differentiation and diverse functions in health and disease. In this Review, we discuss how our view of the airway epithelial landscape has evolved with the advent of transcriptomic approaches to cellular phenotyping, with a focus on epithelial interactions with the local neuronal and immune systems.

Automated summary

The community of cells lining our airways collaborates in maintaining immune homeostasis in the lung and protecting against pathogens and pollutants in the air. Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals cellular heterogeneity in the airway wall and identifies novel cell populations with unique molecular signatures and functions in health and disease. This review discusses the evolving understanding of the airway epithelial landscape with a focus on interactions with the local neuronal and immune systems.