Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is produced in Brunner's glands and plays a role in healing and repair of duodenal ulcers. We examined the participation of zwitterionic phospholipids of mucus in the effects of EGF. Under anesthesia, groups of rats received an intraduodenal bolus of either saline or EGF. Some rats received subcutaneous indomethacin followed by EGF or EGF followed by a detergent (5...

Mucus hypersecretion is a common pathological feature of chronic airway inflammatory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the molecular basis for this condition remains incompletely understood. We have previously demonstrated a critical role of autophagy in COPD pathogenesis through mediating apoptosis of lung epithelial cells. In this study, we aimed to inv...

BACKGROUND Bronchiolisation of distal airspaces is an unexplained feature of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The authors sought to identify mechanisms driving the differentiation of mucus cells during the bronchiolisation process. METHODS Pathways governing airway mucus cell differentiation include SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2 (SOX2), Notch, forkhead box A3(FOXA3)/SAM pointed dom...

The epithelial cells lining the airways serve protective functions. The "barrier function" of the epithelium protects the individual from damage by inhaled irritants. The epithelium produces mucins which become hydrated and form a viscoelastic gel which spreads over the epithelial surface. In healthy individuals inhaled foreign materials become entrapped in the mucus and are cleared by mucocili...

Treatments of bacterial infections have become a difficult task in the medical practice due to high level of resistance to the existing marketed antibiotics. This problem evoked us to search for new antimicrobial agent for better management of bacterial infections. The present study was carried out to evaluate antimicrobial properties of epidermal mucus (soluble mucin or s-mucin). s-mucin was e...

The epithelial cells lining the airways serve protective functions. The ‘‘barrier function’’ of the epithelium protects the individual from damage by inhaled irritants. The epithelium produces mucins which become hydrated and form a viscoelastic gel which spreads over the epithelial surface. In healthy individuals inhaled foreign materials become entrapped in the mucus and are cleared by mucoci...

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe and life-threatening cutaneous reaction usually caused by systemic drug administration. Preparations applied to the skin and mucous membranes topically very rarely induce TEN. We present a case of TEN in a 35-year-old woman probably due to facial application of an over-the-counter (OTC) cosmetic cream.

The fish body is entirely covered by a thin, smooth and glandular epidermis, closely attached to the scales inserted on the dermis. The descriptive work on this tissue dates to twenty or thirty years ago, bears very little photographic record and does not focus on the scale epithelium, despite the fact that it is in direct contact with the environment. Thereupon, the present study characterizes...