PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Ania Carsin AU - Julie Mazenq AU - Alexandra Ilstad AU - Jean-Christophe Dubus AU - Pascal Chanez AU - Delphine Gras TI - Bronchial epithelium in children: a key player in asthma AID - 10.1183/16000617.0101-2015 DP - 2016 Jun 01 TA - European Respiratory Review PG - 158--169 VI - 25 IP - 140 4099 - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/25/140/158.short 4100 - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/25/140/158.full SO - EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW2016 Jun 01; 25 AB - Bronchial epithelium is a key element of the respiratory airways. It constitutes the interface between the environment and the host. It is a physical barrier with many chemical and immunological properties. The bronchial epithelium is abnormal in asthma, even in children. It represents a key component promoting airway inflammation and remodelling that can lead to chronic symptoms. In this review, we present an overview of bronchial epithelium and how to study it, with a specific focus on children. We report physical, chemical and immunological properties from ex vivo and in vitro studies. The responses to various deleterious agents, such as viruses or allergens, may lead to persistent abnormalities orchestrated by bronchial epithelial cells. As epithelium dysfunctions occur early in asthma, reprogramming the epithelium may represent an ambitious goal to induce asthma remission in children.Bronchial epithelium is a morphological and functional dysregulated gatekeeper in asthmatic children http://ow.ly/Y4MaM