help button home button Am J Pathol Epitomics
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Howat, W. J.
Right arrow Articles by Lackie, P. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Howat, W. J.
Right arrow Articles by Lackie, P. M.
(American Journal of Pathology. 2001;158:673-680.)
© 2001 American Society for Investigative Pathology

Regular Article

Basement Membrane Pores in Human Bronchial Epithelium

A Conduit for Infiltrating Cells?

William J. Howat, James A. Holmes, Stephen T. Holgate and Peter M. Lackie

From the Division of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom

This study reports the presence of oval-shaped pores in the basement membrane of the human bronchial airway that may be used as conduits for immune cells to traffic between the epithelial and mesenchymal compartments. Human bronchial mucosa collected after surgery was stripped of epithelial cells without damaging the basement membrane. Both scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed oval-shaped pores 0.75 to 3.85 µm in diameter in the bronchial basement membrane at a density of 863 pores/mm2. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the pores spanned the full depth of the basement membrane, with a concentration of collagen-like fibers at the lateral edges of the pore. Infiltrating cells apparently moved through the pores, both in the presence and absence of the epithelium. Taken together, these results suggest that immune cells use basement membrane pores as predefined routes to move between the epithelial and mesenchymal compartments without disruption of the basement membrane. As a persistent feature of the basement membrane, pores could facilitate inflammatory cell access to the epithelium and greatly increase the frequency of intercellular contact between trafficking cells.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Genes Dev.Home page
K. Hotary, X.-Y. Li, E. Allen, S. L. Stevens, and S. J. Weiss
A cancer cell metalloprotease triad regulates the basement membrane transmigration program
Genes & Dev., October 1, 2006; 20(19): 2673 - 2686.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
F. E. Sirianni, A. Milaninezhad, F. S. F. Chu, and D. C. Walker
Alteration of Fibroblast Architecture and Loss of Basal Lamina Apertures in Human Emphysematous Lung
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., March 15, 2006; 173(6): 632 - 638.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol.Home page
M. J. Evans, M. V. Fanucchi, G. L. Baker, L. S. Van Winkle, L. M. Pantle, S. J. Nishio, E. S. Schelegle, L. J. Gershwin, L. A. Miller, D. M. Hyde, et al.
Atypical development of the tracheal basement membrane zone of infant rhesus monkeys exposed to ozone and allergen
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, October 1, 2003; 285(4): L931 - L939.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
P. K. JEFFERY
Remodeling in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 15, 2001; 164(10): S28 - 38.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2001 by the American Society for Investigative Pathology.