Journal
RESPIRATORY RESEARCH
Volume 22, Issue 1, Pages -Publisher
BMC
DOI: 10.1186/s12931-021-01898-3
Keywords
Mucins; Respiratory tract; Mucus bundle; Goblet cells; Trachea; Bronchi
Categories
Funding
- European Research Council ERC [694181]
- Swedish Research Council [2017-00958]
- Swedish Cancer Foundation
- Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation [2017.0028]
- IngaBritt and Arne Lundberg Foundation
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital (ALF)
- Wilhelm and Martina Lundgren's Foundation
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [U01AI095473]
- Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research
- Erica Lederhausen's Foundation
- Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation [20160241, 20190311]
- Swedish Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Magnus Bergvalls Foundation
- Lederhausen's Center for CF Research at the University of Gothenburg
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFFT)
- Swedish Research Council [2017-00958] Funding Source: Swedish Research Council
- European Research Council (ERC) [694181] Funding Source: European Research Council (ERC)
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The study revealed a novel form of mucus called “mucus threads” secreted from surface goblet cells, with a diameter less than two micrometers. Over time, mucus threads coalesced into larger mucus assemblies, effectively capturing particles. The complexity and variability of normal airway mucus structure and function were highlighted, emphasizing the importance of studying young subjects for understanding lung function.
Background The mucociliary clearance system driven by beating cilia protects the airways from inhaled microbes and particles. Large particles are cleared by mucus bundles made in submucosal glands by parallel linear polymers of the MUC5B mucins. However, the structural organization and function of the mucus generated in surface goblet cells are poorly understood. Methods The origin and characteristics of different mucus structures were studied on live tissue explants from newborn wild-type (WT), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) deficient (CF) piglets and weaned pig airways using video microscopy, Airyscan imaging and electron microscopy. Bronchoscopy was performed in juvenile pigs in vivo. Results We have identified a distinct mucus formation secreted from the surface goblet cells with a diameter less than two micrometer. This type of mucus was named mucus threads. With time mucus threads gathered into larger mucus assemblies, efficiently collecting particles. The previously observed Alcian blue stained mucus bundles were around 10 times thicker than the threads. Together the mucus bundles, mucus assemblies and mucus threads cleared the pig trachea from particles. Conclusions These results demonstrate that normal airway mucus is more complex and has a more variable structural organization and function than was previously understood. These observations emphasize the importance of studying young objects to understand the function of a non-compromised lung.
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