Pahl Andreas
Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Planta Med. 2008 May;74(6):693-6. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-993764. Epub 2008 Jan 10.
The epithelium constitutes the interface between the internal milieu and the external environment, and the nasal epithelium is the initial point of contact for respiratory viruses, airborne allergens and environmental pollutants. The major function of the nasal epithelium was regarded to be primarily that of a physical barrier, but recent studies clearly indicate that its cells are metabolically very active with the capacity to modulate a variety of inflammatory processes through the action of an array of receptor-mediated events. This review summarizes the current view of the active role of the nasal epithelium in the inflammation of the upper airways and its possible modulation by herbal extracts to treat diseases of the upper airways such as common cold and sinusitis.
上皮组织构成了内部环境与外部环境之间的界面，而鼻上皮是呼吸道病毒、空气传播的过敏原和环境污染物的最初接触点。鼻上皮的主要功能曾被认为主要是作为一种物理屏障，但最近的研究清楚地表明，其细胞代谢非常活跃，能够通过一系列受体介导的事件来调节多种炎症过程。这篇综述总结了目前关于鼻上皮在上呼吸道炎症中的积极作用及其可能通过草药提取物进行调节以治疗上呼吸道疾病（如普通感冒和鼻窦炎）的观点。
