HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Thornton, D. J. Articles by Sheehan, J. K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Thornton, D. J. Articles by Sheehan, J. K.

From Mucins to Mucus

Toward a More Coherent Understanding of This Essential Barrier

Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; and Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to David J. Thornton, B.Sc., Ph.D., Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, 2.205 Stopford Building, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK. E-Mail: Dave.Thornton{at}man.ac.uk

Mucus is essential for protection of the airways; however, in chronic airway disease mucus hypersecretion is an important factor in morbidity and mortality. The properties of the mucus gel are dictated in large part by the oligomeric mucins and, over the past decade, we have gained a better understanding of the molecular nature of these complex O-linked glycoproteins. We know now that MUC5AC mucins, as well as different glycoforms of the MUC5B mucin, are the predominant gel-forming glycoproteins in airways mucus. Furthermore, the amount, molecular size, and morphology of these glycoproteins can be altered in disease. From more recent data, it has become clear that oligomeric mucins alone do not constitute mucus, and other mucin and nonmucin components must be important contributors to mucus organization and hence airways defense. Therefore, the challenge over the coming decade will be to investigate how the oligomeric mucins are organized to yield "functional" mucus. Such studies will provide a clearer perception of airways mucosal protection and may highlight specific components as potential targets for therapeutic strategies for the treatment of hypersecretory disease.

Key Words: mucus • sputum • MUC5AC • MUC2 • MUC5B

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P-R. Burgel and J. A. Nadel Epidermal growth factor receptor-mediated innate immune responses and their roles in airway diseases Eur. Respir. J., October 1, 2008; 32(4): 1068 - 1081. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Zhu, C. Ehre, L. H. Abdullah, J. K. Sheehan, M. Roy, C. M. Evans, B. F. Dickey, and C. W. Davis Munc13-2-/- baseline secretion defect reveals source of oligomeric mucins in mouse airways J. Physiol., April 1, 2008; 586(7): 1977 - 1992. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Ehre, Y. Zhu, L. H. Abdullah, J. Olsen, K. I. Nakayama, K. Nakayama, R. O. Messing, and C. W. Davis nPKC{varepsilon}, a P2Y2-R downstream effector in regulated mucin secretion from airway goblet cells Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, November 1, 2007; 293(5): C1445 - C1454. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. W. J. Young, O. W. Williams, D. Chandra, L. K. Bellinghausen, G. Perez, A. Suarez, M. J. Tuvim, M. G. Roy, S. N. Alexander, S. J. Moghaddam, et al. Central Role of Muc5ac Expression in Mucous Metaplasia and Its Regulation by Conserved 5' Elements Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., September 1, 2007; 37(3): 273 - 290. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. LeSimple, I. van Seuningen, M.-P. Buisine, M.-C. Copin, M. Hinz, W. Hoffmann, R. Hajj, S. L. Brody, C. Coraux, and E. Puchelle Trefoil Factor Family 3 Peptide Promotes Human Airway Epithelial Ciliated Cell Differentiation Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., March 1, 2007; 36(3): 296 - 303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. K. Lai, D. E. O'Hanlon, S. Harrold, S. T. Man, Y.-Y. Wang, R. Cone, and J. Hanes Rapid transport of large polymeric nanoparticles in fresh undiluted human mucus PNAS, January 30, 2007; 104(5): 1482 - 1487. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Livraghi and S. H. Randell Cystic Fibrosis and Other Respiratory Diseases of Impaired Mucus Clearance Toxicol Pathol, January 1, 2007; 35(1): 116 - 129. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M. Lonergan, R. Chari, R. J. deLeeuw, A. Shadeo, B. Chi, M.-S. Tsao, S. Jones, M. Marra, V. Ling, R. Ng, et al. Identification of Novel Lung Genes in Bronchial Epithelium by Serial Analysis of Gene Expression Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., December 1, 2006; 35(6): 651 - 661. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Finzi, V. Barbu, P.-R. Burgel, M. Mergey, K. S. Kirkwood, E. C. Wick, J.-Y. Scoazec, F. Peschaud, F. Paye, J. A. Nadel, et al. MUC5AC, a Gel-Forming Mucin Accumulating in Gallstone Disease, Is Overproduced via an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Pathway in the Human Gallbladder Am. J. Pathol., December 1, 2006; 169(6): 2031 - 2041. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. G. Wahrenbrock and A. Varki Multiple Hepatic Receptors Cooperate to Eliminate Secretory Mucins Aberrantly Entering the Bloodstream: Are Circulating Cancer Mucins the "Tip of the Iceberg"? Cancer Res., February 15, 2006; 66(4): 2433 - 2441. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. D. Rosen, D. Tsay, M. S. Singer, S. Hemmerich, and W. M. Abraham Therapeutic Targeting of Endothelial Ligands for L-selectin (PNAd) in a Sheep Model of Asthma Am. J. Pathol., March 1, 2005; 166(3): 935 - 944. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]