title: Chronic Aspergillus fumigatus exposure upregulates the expression of mucin 5AC in the airways of asthmatic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Airway mucus hypersecretion is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with asthma. Chronic Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) exposure leads to aggravation of airway inflammation and remodeling, including goblet cell hyperplasia (GCH) and mucus hypersecretion in a rat model of asthma. The effects of chronic A. fumigatus exposure on the expression of airway mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rat model of chronic asthma was set up by systemic sensitization and repeated challenge to ovalbumin (OVA). The asthmatic rats were exposed to chronic intranasal inhalation of A. fumigatus spores. The changes of MUC5AC expression, the extent of GCH, and airway hyperreactivity (AHR) were measured after exposure to the fungus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic exposure to A. fumigatus upregulates the expression of MUC5AC, and induces GCH in the airways of asthma rats, and the remodeling changes of the airway epithelium was positively correlated with AHR. Upregulation of MUC5AC and induction of GCH may be mechanisms by which chronic A. fumigatus exposure promotes the progression of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College, Weifang, China. gaofs888@163.com
authors.forename: Fu-Sheng
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Mei-Juan
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yong-quan
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000502:physiology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D055271:Mucin 5AC / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13; C524680:Muc5ac protein, rat; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010047:Ovalbumin