Human airway tuft cells influence the mucociliary clearance through cholinergic signalling.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Airway tuft cells, formerly called brush cells have long been described only morphologically in human airways. More recent RNAseq studies described a chemosensory cell population, which includes tuft cells, by a distinct gene transcription signature. Yet, until which level in the tracheobronchial tree in native human airway epithelium tuft cells occur and if they function as regulators of innate immunity, e.g., by regulating mucociliary clearance, remained largely elusive.

Methods

We performed immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and immunoblotting analyses for various tuft cell markers to confirm the presence of this cell type in human tracheal samples. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to study the distribution of tuft cells along the intrapulmonary airways in humans.

SUBMITTER: Hollenhorst MI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10625704 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature