Characterization of a lung epithelium specific E-cadherin knock-out model: Implications for obstructive lung pathology.

ABSTRACT: The airway epithelium regulates responses to aeroallergens, acting as a physical and immunological barrier. In asthma, epithelial barrier function and the expression of adherens junction protein E-cadherin is compromised, but it is unknown whether this is cause or consequence of the disease. We hypothesized that airway epithelial loss of E-cadherin is a critical step in the development of manifestations of asthma. We generated a transgenic mouse model with conditional loss of E-cadherin in lung epithelial cells at birth and onwards. We observed normal lung development at the time of birth in mice lacking E-cadherin in the lung epithelium. However, E-cadherin deficiency led to progressive epithelial damage in mice growing into adulthood, as evidenced by airway epithelial denudation, decreas

SUBMITTER: Post S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6125431 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature