BACKGROUND Epithelial damage and modifications of cell differentiation are frequent in airway diseases with chronic inflammation, in which transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) plays an important role. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differentiation of human nasal epithelial cells (HNEC) after wound healing and the potential effects of TGF-beta1. METHODS Basal, mucus, and cil...

Airway mucus hypersecretion and secretion retention can result from inflammation, irritation, stimulation, or mucus-producing tumors. Secretion clearance can be furthered hampered by ciliary dysfunction and by weakness or restrictive lung disease, leading to an ineffective cough. There are a number of different mucoactive medications that have been used to reduce hypersecretion, make secretions...

The integrity of healthy respiratory epithelium is maintained, at least in part, by trapping inhaled particles and microorganisms in a protective blanket of mucus which is transported towards the oropharynx by the coordinated action of the underlying ciliated cells. Ciliary dyskinesia is a recently recognised condition in which there is profound disturbance of this clearance mechanism because o...

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of mycophenolate sodium on mucociliary clearance. INTRODUCTION Mycophenolate is one of the most commonly used immunosuppressive drugs in lung transplantation. Although its pharmacokinetic properties are well defined, its side effects on mucociliary clearance have not yet been studied. METHODS Sixty rats were subjected to left bronchial section and anastomosis....

Motile cilia of the lungs respond to environmental challenges by increasing their ciliary beat frequency in order to enhance mucociliary clearance as a fundamental tenant of innate defense. One important second messenger in transducing the regulable nature of motile cilia is cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP). In this review, the history of cGMP action is presented and a survey of the ...

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is characterized by congenital impairment of mucociliary clearance. Kartagener syndrome (KS) is a clinical variant of primary ciliary dyskinesia which is involved in situs inversus associated with chronic respiratory infections. In addition, glomerular disease in KS syndrome is rare and reported cases are limited. We had a 27-year-old female patient with KS who presen...

Background Mucociliary clearance is the main self-clearing system of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.This is a very important means of non specific defence against continuous organic and inorganic contamination conveyed by air. It works by trapping particles and microorganisms in the mucus and then by transporting the mucous film to the pharynx where it is eliminated with a cough or swal...