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

Respiratory Research

Sara Lindén¹  Médea Padra¹  Elisa Lappi-Blanco²  Riitta Kaarteenaho³  Chuan-Xing Li⁴  Åsa M. Wheelock⁴  Magnus C. Sköld⁵  Reza Karimi⁵  Heta Merikallio⁶ 

[1] Department of Biomedical Chemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden;Department of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research and Translational Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland;Research Unit of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland;Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland;Respiratory Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden;Respiratory Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden;Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden;Respiratory Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden;Research Unit of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland;Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland;

关键词: Bronchus;    Epithelium;    Mucin;    Smoking;    COPD;    Chronic Bronchitis;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12931-020-01498-7

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

RationaleSmoking-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.MethodsMucosal 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsSmoking 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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY