title: L-carbocisteine reduces neutrophil elastase-induced mucin production.
abstract: Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) exists in high concentrations in airway secretions and produces mucus hypersecretion in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). L-carbocisteine improves the quality of life and reduces exacerbation in COPD patients. However the precise mechanism is uncertain. We examined the effects of L-carbocisteine on HNE-induced mucus hypersecretion and on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which is associated with mucin production induced by HNE. NCI-H292, a human lung mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell line, was treated with or without HNE and L-carbocisteine. MUC5AC mRNA expression and ROS production in the cells, and MUC5AC protein concentration in supernatants were measured. HNE increased MUC5AC mRNA expression and MUC5AC protein concentration in supernatants in the cells. L-carbocisteine reduces HNE-induced mRNA expression and protein secretion of MUC5AC. L-carbocisteine also reduced ROS production in the cells induced by HNE. Reduction of HNE-induced mucus secretion by L-carbocisteine in the pulmonary epithelial cells may partly relate to the reduction of ROS.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasuo
authors.forename: Keisaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Hitomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Atsuhito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ushiki
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsushima
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Mutsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaya
authors.forename: Keishi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubo
mesh_terms: D002233:Carbocysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005100:Expectorants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000378:metabolism*; D055271:Mucin 5AC / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
chemical_list: D005100:Expectorants; C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002233:Carbocysteine; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase