Mucin gene expression and mucin secretion in human airway epithelium

Abstract

The amount of mucus produced in the human airway is mainly balanced by the rate of production and clearance through itsresorption, vaporisation and ciliary transport. Many clinical problems occur when this balanced production and clearance of mucus is violated. Many research studies are currently in progress to control mucus hypersecretion. Advances in this area owe a lot to the introduction of molecular biologic techniques and the identification of mucin genes. However, further studies are still required to clarify the exact mechanism of regulation of mucus secretion in the human airway epithelium.