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Common characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of airway mucus hypersecretion in lung disease

LIN Ze-Qiang¹, PANG Shi-Man², ZHU Si-Yuan², HE Li-Xia¹, KONG Wei-Guo¹, LU Wen-Ju^1,2, ZHANG Zi-Li^1,2,*

¹The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Center of Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Medical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, Guangzhou 510180, China；²Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510180, China

Abstract

In a healthy human, the airway mucus forms a thin, protective liquid layer covering the surface of the respiratory tract. It comprises a complex blend of mucin, multiple antibacterial proteins, metabolic substances, water, and electrolytes. This mucus plays a pivotal role in the lungs' innate immune system by maintaining airway hydration and capturing airborne particles and pathogens. However, heightened mucus secretion in the airway can compromise ciliary clearance, obstruct the respiratory tract, and increase the risk of pathogen colonization and recurrent infections. Consequently, a thorough exploration of the mechanisms driving excessive airway mucus secretion is crucial for establishing a theoretical foundation for the eventual development of targeted drugs designed to reduce mucus production. Across a range of lung diseases, excessive airway mucus secretion manifests with unique characteristics and regulatory mechanisms, all intricately linked to mucin. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the characteristics and regulatory mechanisms associated with excessive airway mucus secretion in several prevalent lung diseases.

Key words: airway mucus; mucin; corona virus disease 2019; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; asthma

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 张子丽　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2025.0056

Citing This Article：

LIN Ze-Qiang, PANG Shi-Man, ZHU Si-Yuan, HE Li-Xia, KONG Wei-Guo, LU Wen-Ju, ZHANG Zi-Li. Common characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of airway mucus hypersecretion in lung disease. Acta Physiol Sin 2025; 77 (5): 989-1000 (in Chinese with English abstract).