Understanding Lung Cell Keratinization: Causes & Vitamin A Deficiency

Keratinization of lung cells is more often referred to as *squamous metaplasia*, whereby non-keratinizing squamous epithelium replaces more specialized pseudostratified or columnar epithelia.

While a variety of environmental agents, genetic traits, inflammatory processes, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, etc can cause squamous metaplasia; Keratinization of lung cells is the hallmark pathological finding most readily associated with Vitamin A deficiency (along with night blindness).