Nasal airway epithelium (NAE)

The nasal and airway epithelium is a specialized cellular lining of the respiratory tract that acts as a physical and immunological barrier against inhaled pathogens, allergens, and pollutants. It is primarily composed of pseudostratified ciliated columnar cells, goblet cells, and basal cells, which work in concert to facilitate mucociliary clearance and maintain airway homeostasis (Knight & Holgate, 2003, 'The airway epithelium: structural and functional properties in health and disease'). In various respiratory pathologies, the epithelium becomes a site of chronic inflammation, remodeling, and viral entry, as seen in the use of ACE2 receptors by SARS-CoV-2 (Hoffmann et al., 2020, 'SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry Depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2'). While the epithelium itself is a tissue rather than a single molecular target, it expresses numerous therapeutic targets including the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) and various cytokine receptors. Effective drug delivery to this region is critical for treating localized diseases like rhinitis and systemic conditions via pulmonary absorption (Ganesan et al., 2013, 'Airway epithelial barrier dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease').

Other names

Respiratory epitheliumNasal mucosaCiliated columnar epitheliumAirway epithelial cells

Therapeutic agents targeting the nasal and airway epithelium typically function by modulating specific molecular components within the tissue, such as activating G protein-coupled receptors for bronchodilation, potentiating ion channels like CFTR to improve hydration, or binding to intracellular glucocorticoid receptors to suppress inflammatory cytokine production.