Journal article
Mucus strands from submucosal glands initiate mucociliary transport of large particles
JCI insight, Vol.4(1), e124863
01/10/2019
DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.124863
PMCID: PMC6485365
PMID: 30626743
Abstract
Mucus produced by submucosal glands is a key component of respiratory mucociliary transport (MCT). When it emerges from submucosal gland ducts, mucus forms long strands on the airway surface. However, the function of those strands is uncertain. To test the hypothesis that mucus strands facilitate transport of large particles, we studied newborn pigs. In ex vivo experiments, interconnected mucus strands moved over the airway surface, attached to immobile spheres, and initiated their movement by pulling them. Stimulating submucosal gland secretion with methacholine increased the percentage of spheres that moved and shortened the delay until mucus strands began moving spheres. To disrupt mucus strands, we applied reducing agents
tris
-(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine and dithiothreitol. They decreased the fraction of moving spheres and delayed initiation of movement for spheres that did move. We obtained similar in vivo results with CT-based tracking of microdisks in spontaneously breathing pigs. Methacholine increased the percentage of microdisks moving and reduced the delay until they were propelled up airways. Aerosolized
tris
-(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine prevented those effects. Once particles started moving, reducing agents did not alter their speed either ex vivo or in vivo. These findings indicate that submucosal glands produce mucus in the form of strands and that the strands initiate movement of large particles, facilitating their removal from airways.
Airway submucosal glands produce mucus in the form of long strands, which initiate movement and facilitate removal of particles from airways.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Mucus strands from submucosal glands initiate mucociliary transport of large particles
- Creators
- Anthony J Fischer - Department of PediatricsBrieanna M Hilkin - Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical InstituteMaria I Pino-Argumedo - Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical InstituteNicholas D Gansemer - Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical InstitutePatrick D Allen - Department of PediatricsCullen R Shanrock - Department of PediatricsLynda S Ostedgaard - Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical InstituteEric A Hoffman - Department of Biomedical EngineeringAnna L Chaly - Department of PediatricsDavid A Stoltz - Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical InstituteKeyan Zarei - Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical InstituteMichael J Welsh - Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical InstituteMahmoud H Abou Alaiwa - Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical Institute
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- JCI insight, Vol.4(1), e124863
- Publisher
- American Society for Clinical Investigation
- DOI
- 10.1172/jci.insight.124863
- PMID
- 30626743
- PMCID
- PMC6485365
- ISSN
- 2379-3708
- eISSN
- 2379-3708
- Grant note
- HL136927,HL135433,HL136813,HL091842,HL051670 / NIH FISCHE16I0,STOLTZ16XX0 / CFF
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/10/2019
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Neurology; Radiology; Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine; Pulmonary Medicine; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center; Neurosurgery; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984093235202771
Metrics
26 Record Views