The underappreciated role of resident epithelial cell populations in metastatic progression: contributions of the lung alveolar epithelium

Abstract

Metastatic cancer is difficult to treat and is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. After cancer cells initiate metastasis and successfully seed a distant site, resident cells in the tissue play a key role in determining how metastatic progression develops. The lung is the second most frequent site of metastatic spread, and the primary site of metastasis within the lung are alveoli. The most abundant cell type in the alveolar niche is the epithelium. This review will examine the potential contributions of the alveolar epithelium to metastatic progression. It will also provide insight into other ways in which alveolar epithelial cells, acting as immune sentinels within the lung, may influence metastatic progression through their various interactions with cells in the surrounding microenvironment.

Exosomal MicroRNAs: An Emerging Important Regulator in Acute Lung Injury

“…Lung homeostasis is the cornerstone of lung health and depends substantially on the pulmonary microenvironment. Communication among the pulmonary epithelium, endotheliocytes, and immune cells dominantly contributes to maintaining the balance of the pulmonary microenvironment. , The dysfunctions of these cells can alter the pulmonary microenvironment, leading to lung inflammation and cancer development. − Various resident cells from the lung can achieve intercellular communication by secreting exosomes carrying a specific high or low expression of miRNA, providing a novel theoretical foundation for the pathogenesis of ALI (Figure ).…”