Endothelin and the Airway Epithelium

The airway epithelium plays an important role in host defense as a barrier against physical, pathological and chemical stimuli. The epithelium is also an active metabolic and biosynthetic site for production and release of mediators, such as arachidonic acid metabolites, cytokines and a putative epithelium-derived refaxing factor, associated with the regulation of the bronchomotor tone and airway inflammation.