Scientists at Stanford Medicine have found that rare cells in our lungs play a crucial role in repairing damage from smoke and viruses. This discovery might someday help protect people from wildfire smoke damage and even prevent diabetes. The research team discovered that special cells called neuroendocrine cells—which make up less than 1% of the cells lining our airways—are vital for starting the body’s repair process after injury. These cells release a protein called Desert hedgehog that sets off a chain reaction of healing. “This whole signaling cascade both protects and regenerates vulnerable cells in the airway and the pancreas,” … Continue reading Rare Lung Cells Could Hold Key to Preventing Smoke Damage and Diabetes, Stanford Study Finds