Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Comparison of airway mucin 5AC and 5B expression in preterm-born adults and asthma

Mervi Kreus1,2,3,4, Petra Um-Bergström5,6, Heta Merikallio3,4

  • 1Division of immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

ERJ Open Research
|June 10, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Preterm adults do not show increased airway mucin expression like asthma patients. However, mucin levels correlate with lung function and symptoms, suggesting a clinical role in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Preterm birth is a risk factor for chronic lung disease and asthma-like symptoms.
  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common complication of preterm birth.
  • Airway mucin expression may be altered in preterm-born adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate mucin (MUC) 5AC and MUC5B expression in adults born preterm, with and without a history of BPD.
  • To compare mucin expression in preterm-born adults to that of asthma patients and healthy controls.
  • To explore the association between mucin expression and respiratory health in preterm-born adults.

Main Methods:

  • Bronchial biopsies were obtained from 39 preterm-born adults (22 with BPD history), 18 asthma patients, and 24 healthy controls.
  • Immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy were used to assess MUC5AC and MUC5B protein expression.
  • Goblet cell percentage was quantified.

Main Results:

  • MUC5AC expression and goblet cell percentage were lower in preterm adults than in asthma patients, but similar to healthy controls.
  • In preterm adults, MUC5AC correlated negatively with FEV1/FVC and positively with quality-of-life scores.
  • MUC5B expression was lower in preterm adults with bronchial hyperreactivity and higher in those reporting phlegm.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm-born adults, with or without BPD, do not exhibit increased MUC5AC expression compared to healthy controls, unlike asthma patients.
  • MUC5AC and MUC5B expression are associated with lung function, symptoms, and quality of life in preterm adults.
  • These findings suggest a potential clinical relevance of MUC5AC and MUC5B in managing respiratory health in preterm-born individuals.
Abstract

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