AIRWAY EPITHELIAL-CELLS PRODUCE STEM-CELL FACTOR

Airway epithelial cells modulate the inflammatory response in asthmati c, allergic and fibrotic lung diseases through the secretion of cytoki nes that regulate the movement and activation of inflammatory cells. M ast cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of these lung dis eases. In this study we report that normal airway epithelial cells exp ress stem cell factor which is a critical mediator of mast cell growth and differentiation and that transforming growth factor-p inhibits se cretion of stem cell factor by airway epithelial cells.