Author contributions
JP
MF, AFB, JAB, ISM, FJK, AB, TS and JP conceived and participated in the study design. AFB, SB and AB carried out the clinical bronchoscopy studies and collected the data. MF, RD and JP were responsible for the laboratory and immunohistochemistry analyses. MF, JP, RD, ISM, DG, AB and TS took part in data analysis and interpretation. MF and JP drafted the manuscript and all authors participated in critical review of the data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.