Club Cell Protein and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Progression: The Unrealized Potential of a Peripheral Lung Biomarker

Club cells and CC16: another “smoking gun”? (With potential bullets against COPD)

“…CC16, a 15.8-kDa protein, is secreted by these nonciliated bronchiolar cells and is supposed to have anti-inflammatory properties. Confusing roles in airway homeostasis maintenance have been attributed both to the protein and to the cell [4], since these cells are commonly identified by the protein. CC16 could act through the direct binding of inhaled toxicants within its hydrophobic pocket for example, while the club cell may detoxify inhaled noxious agents through the expression of naphthalene-targeted CYP2F2 cytochrome [5] and play a role of accessory resident stem cell [6].…”