Interaction between mucosal epithelium and immune system in human nasal mucosa.

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The mucosal barrier of the upper respiratory tract including the nasal cavity, which is the first site of exposure to inhaled antigens, plays an important role in host defense in terms of innate immunity and is regulated in large part by tight junctions of epithelial cells. Tight junction molecules are expressed in both M cells and dendritic cells as well as epithelial cells of upper airway. Various antigens are sampled, transported, and released to lymphocytes through the cells in nasal mucosa while they maintain the integrity of the barrier. Expression of tight junction molecules and the barrier function in normal human nasal epithelial cells are affected by various stimuli including growth factor, TLR ligand, and cytokine. In addition, epithelial-derived cytokines, enhances the barrier function together with an increase of tight junction molecules in HNECs. Furthermore, RSV infection in HNECs in vitro induces the barrier function together with proinflammatory cytokine release.