Lipid raft facilitated ligation of K-α1-tubulin by specific antibodies on epithelial cells: Role in pathogenesis of chronic rejection following human lung transplantation

► Addition of KAT Abs (+) sera to NHBE culture causes upregulation of growth factors. ► Cholesterol depletion causes down regulation of growth factor expression. ► Cholesterol depletion is accompanied by loss of membrane bound caveolin. ► Thus, we demonstrate lipid raft are critical for efficient ligation of the KAT Abs.