Nasal airway epithelial repair after very preterm birth

Preterm birth rates are increasing and now account for more than 11% of global births. Simultaneously, advances in neonatal care have led to increased survival of lower gestation neonates. A complication of preterm birth, and the biggest determinant of survival, is lung and airway immaturity. After preterm birth, the immature respiratory system is exposed to pro-inflammatory stimuli like injury from resuscitation and oxygen toxicity. The airway epithelium, the physical barrier between insults and the airways, is particularly vulnerable to injury. If epithelial barrier integrity cannot be restored rapidly following damage ( i.e. via aberrant repair), the respiratory system is left unprotected, increasing the risk of infection, inflammation and tissue damage. Altered epithelial repair may play an important role in the ongoing respiratory health problems experienced by preterm survivors including severe respiratory infections throughout early life, or low and declining lung function [1–3]. Footnotes This manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the ERJ Open Research . It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJOR online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article. Conflict of interest: Dr. Hillas has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Evans has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Ang has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Iosifidis has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Garratt has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Hemy has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Kicic-Starecvich has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Simpson has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Kicic has nothing to disclose.