Airway Mucin Concentration as a Marker of Chronic Bronchitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic bronchitic and emphysematous components. In one biophysical model, the concentration of mucin on the airway surfaces is hypothesized to be a key variable that controls mucus transport in healthy persons versus cessation of transport in persons with muco-obstructive lung diseases. Under this model, it is postulated that a high mucin concentration produces the sputum and disease progression that are characteristic of chronic bronchitis.

Methods

We characterized the COPD status of 917 participants from the Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study (SPIROMICS) using questionnaires administered to participants, chest tomography, spirometry, and examination of induced sputum. T

SUBMITTER: Kesimer M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5706541 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature