Flagellin-induces a hypersecretory phenotype in primary human bronchial epithelial cells, presented at The 13th European Cystic Fibrosis Basic Science Conference, Pisa, Italy, March 2016
A screen of microbial-derived products using a 3D model of the human airway epithelium (bronchospheres) revealed flagellin (FLG) as a potential regulator of mucociliary structure and function. Flagellin, a TLR5-agonist, is the key protein component of bacterial flagella expressed by a number of organisms including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Considering that mucus plugs in the airways of many cystic fibrosis (CF) patients would be reasonably expected to contain FLG, the epithelium is likely to be chronically exposed to this bacterial protein.
