Fig. 6. Model for basal-ESC reprogramming towards excess growth, immune activation, and mucus production as targets for MAPK13 blockade in airway disease.

Sequential steps include initial barrier injury (e.g., viral infection); immune niche support (e.g., moDC recruitment and activation); basal-ESC growth, differentiation, and immune activation (e.g., chemokine production); immune cell recruitment and production of cytokines (e.g., IL-13), and further basal-lineage cell differentiation towards mucus production in mucous cells. SMKI, small-molecule kinase inhibitor (e.g., NuP-4).