Emerging cell and molecular targets for treating mucus hypersecretion in asthma.
Allergol Int
; 73(3): 375-381, 2024 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38692992
ABSTRACT
Mucus provides a protective barrier that is crucial for host defense in the lungs. However, excessive or abnormal mucus can have pathophysiological consequences in many pulmonary diseases, including asthma. Patients with asthma are treated with agents that relax airway smooth muscle and reduce airway inflammation, but responses are often inadequate. In part, this is due to the inability of existing therapeutic agents to directly target mucus. Accordingly, there is a critical need to better understand how mucus hypersecretion and airway plugging are affected by the epithelial cells that synthesize, secrete, and transport mucus components. This review highlights recent advances in the biology of mucin glycoproteins with a specific focus on MUC5AC and MUC5B, the chief macromolecular components of airway mucus. An improved mechanistic understanding of key steps in mucin production and secretion will help reveal novel potential therapeutic strategies.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Asthma
/
Mucus
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Allergol Int
/
Allergol. intern
/
Allergology international
Journal subject:
ALERGIA E IMUNOLOGIA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States
Country of publication:
United kingdom