MUC5AC expression up-regulation goblet cell hyperplasia in the airway of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the number of goblet cells, the change of MUC5AC expression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and the relationship of smoking with goblet cell, MUC5AC, and lung function.


METHODS
Eighteen patients undergoing lung resections for a solitary peripheral carcinoma were classified by lung function as having COPD. Twenty patients with normal lung function served as the control group. Normal lobe bronchioles far away from the lesion site were taken for paraffin section. Goblet cells were identified by AB/PAS staining and the expression of MUC5AC in the paraffin's section was tested by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Goblet cell hyperplasia was observed in the COPD group. The positive rate of goblet cell in COPD group (0.20% +/- 0.10%) was significantly higher than that in the normal lung function group (0.13% +/- 0.06%, P < 0.05). The positive rate of MUC5AC expression in the COPD group (0.27% +/- 0.09%) was higher than that in the normal lung function group (0.20% +/- 0.10%, P < 0.05). The positive rate of goblet cell in smokers (27.93% +/- 9.00%) of the COPD group and normal lung function group was higher than that in non-smokers (17.70% +/- 9.37%, P < 0.05), while MUC5AC expression had no significant difference between smokers and non-smokers (17.88% +/- 6.44% and 10.88% +/- 7.10%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
For COPD patients with declined lung function, there were goblet cell hyperplasia and increased expression of MUC5AC. MUC5AC expression up-regulation may due to goblet cell hyperplasia. Smoking may be an important factor for goblet cell hyperplasia.
Ma
Rui
R
Department of Respiratory, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200025. tyyson@hotmail.com
Wang
Ying
Y
Cheng
Gang
G
Zhang
Hui-Zhen
HZ
Wan
Huan-Ying
HY
Huang
Shao-Guang
SG
D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012907:Smoking; D015854:Up-Regulation
C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins