Airway mucus: From production to secretion.
Mucus hypersecretion is a phenotype associated with multiple obstructive lung diseases. However, in spite of its nefarious reputation under pathologic conditions, there are significant benefits to having low levels of mucus present in the airways at baseline, such as the ability to trap and eliminate inhaled particles and to prevent desiccation of airway surfaces. Mucins are high-molecular-weight glycoproteins that are the chief components that render viscoelastic and gel-forming properties to mucus. Recent advances in animal models and in vitro systems have provided a wealth of information regarding the identification of the mucin genes that are expressed in the lungs, the signal transduction pathways that regulate the expression of these mucins, and the secretory pathways that mediate their release into the airways. In addition, the clinical and pathologic literature has corroborated many of the basic laboratory findings. As a result, mucin overproduction and hypersecretion are moving away from being markers of disease and toward being testable as functional components of lung disease processes.
Williams
Olatunji W
OW
Department of Pediatric Medicine and Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Michael E. Debakey Houston VA Medical Center, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Sharafkhaneh
Amir
A
Kim
Victor
V
Dickey
Burton F
BF
Evans
Christopher M
CM
D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D009077:Mucins