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Respiratory Research
Published in: Respiratory Research 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Bronchitis | Research

Smoking-associated increase in mucins 1 and 4 in human airways

Authors: Heta Merikallio, Riitta Kaarteenaho, Sara Lindén, Médea Padra, Reza Karimi, Chuan-Xing Li, Elisa Lappi-Blanco, Åsa M. Wheelock, Magnus C. Sköld

Published in: Respiratory Research | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Rationale

Smoking-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with dysregulated production of mucus. Mucins (MUC) are important both for mucus secretion and epithelial defense. We have examined the distribution of MUC1 and MUC4 in the airway epithelial cells of never-smokers and smokers with and without COPD.

Methods

Mucosal biopsies and bronchial wash samples were obtained by bronchoscopy from age- and sex-matched COPD-patients (n = 38; GOLD I-II/A-B), healthy never-smokers (n = 40) and current smokers with normal lung function (n = 40) from the Karolinska COSMIC cohort (NCT02627872). Cell-specific expressions of MUC1, MUC4 and regulating factors, i.e., epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) 1 and 2, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Soluble MUC1 was measured by quantitative immunodetection on slot blot.

Results

The levels of cell-bound MUC1 expression in basal cells and in soluble MUC1 in bronchial wash were increased in smokers, regardless of airway obstruction. Patients with chronic bronchitis had higher MUC1 expression. The expression of MUC4 in cells with goblet cell phenotype was increased in smokers. The expression of EGFR2, but not that of EGFR1, was higher in never-smokers than in smokers.

Conclusions

Smoking history and the presence of chronic bronchitis, regardless of airway obstruction, affect both cellular and soluble MUC1 in human airways. Therefore, MUC1 may be a novel marker for smoking- associated airway disease.
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Metadata
Title
Smoking-associated increase in mucins 1 and 4 in human airways
Authors
Heta Merikallio
Riitta Kaarteenaho
Sara Lindén
Médea Padra
Reza Karimi
Chuan-Xing Li
Elisa Lappi-Blanco
Åsa M. Wheelock
Magnus C. Sköld
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Respiratory Research / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1465-993X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-020-01498-7

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