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Elastic mucus strands impair mucociliary clearance in cystic fibrosis pigs
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Elastic mucus strands impair mucociliary clearance in cystic fibrosis pigs

Maria I Pino-Argumedo, Anthony J Fischer, Brieanna M Hilkin, Nicholas D Gansemer, Patrick D Allen, Eric A Hoffman, David A Stoltz, Michael J Welsh and Mahmoud H Abou Alaiwa
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.119(13), pp.e2121731119-e2121731119
03/29/2022
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2121731119
PMCID: PMC9060506
PMID: 35324331
url
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2121731119View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

SignificanceIn many lung diseases, increased amounts of and/or abnormal mucus impair mucociliary clearance, a key defense against inhaled and aspirated material. Submucosal glands lining cartilaginous airways secrete mucus strands that are pulled by cilia until they break free from the duct and sweep upward toward the larynx, carrying particulates. In cystic fibrosis (CF) pigs, progressive clearance of insufflated microdisks was repeatedly interrupted as microdisks abruptly recoiled. Aerosolizing a reducing agent to break disulfide bonds linking mucins ruptured mucus strands, freeing them from submucosal gland ducts and allowing cilia to propel them up the airways. These findings highlight the abnormally increased elasticity of CF mucus and suggest that agents that break disulfide bonds might have value in lung diseases with increased mucus.
Animals Cystic Fibrosis Disulfides Mucociliary Clearance Mucus Respiratory Mucosa Swine

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