title: Measurement of airway mucin gene expression.
abstract: Hypersecretion of airway mucus is characteristic of several severe lung diseases, particularly those involving chronic inflammation such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis (CF) (1). Mucins are the major macromolecular component of mucus and play a fundamental role in the pathophysiology of these diseases by determining the viscoelastic properties of mucus and its ability to interact with the cilia of the respiratory tract during mucociliary clearance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College School of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Rogers