American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
-
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Apr 2018
Depletion of Airway Submucosal Glands and TP63+KRT5+ Basal Cells in Obliterative Bronchiolitis.
Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) is a major cause of mortality after lung transplantation. Depletion of airway stem cells (SCs) may lead to fibrosis in OB. ⋯ SMGs and basal SC compartments are depleted in large and/or small airways of lung allografts, and basal SC proliferative capacity declines with progression of disease and phenotypic changes. Global airway SC depletion may be a mechanism for pulmonary allograft failure.