title: Overproduction of MUC5AC core protein in patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The genetic identities of mucins secreted in the airways of patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) have not been previously investigated, although hypersecretion is a common feature of this disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the production of MUC5AC, a major core protein of mucin in airway secretion, and the effect of macrolide treatment on such production in patients with DPB.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed Western blot analysis for MUC5AC of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid patients. Cases consisted of four groups including patients with DPB, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and sarcoidosis, and healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MUC5AC was detected in DPB patients but not in other groups. Macrolide treatment tended to inhibit such production in DPB patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that overproduction of MUC5AC plays an important role in the pathogenesis of DPB.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanagihara
authors.forename: Yoshitsugu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirakata
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mukae
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomono
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Jun-Ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kadota
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins