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Fig. 1 | Pneumonia

Fig. 1

From: Innate immune responses in pneumonia

Fig. 1

Overview of features of the innate immune response in the lungs. Multiple immune and non-immune cell types participate in the pulmonary innate immune response. Airway epithelial cells produce mucus and antimicrobial peptides, which traps and neutralizes debris and pathogens, and removes them from the lung via the mucociliary elevator. Resident immune cells, including macrophages and lymphocytes, and alveolar epithelial cells surveil the airway and alveolar spaces for potential pathogens, secreting chemokines, and cytokines to recruit additional effector cells such as neutrophils and monocytes. Migration of these cells to the alveolar space through the extracellular matrix is facilitated by vascular endothelium, fibroblasts, and alveolar epithelial cells

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