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Mucus glycoconjugate secretion in cool and hypertonic solutions
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216-4505, USA.
The American Journal of Physiology
|June 1, 1997
Summary
Cold air and increased tonicity directly stimulate airway glycoconjugate (GC) secretion. These findings explain how exercise-induced asthma symptoms like productive cough may arise from airway irritation.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Physiology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Exercise-induced asthma involves airway obstruction triggered by cold, dry air, often with a productive cough.
- The direct cellular mechanisms linking cold or hypertonicity to airway secretions are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if cold temperatures and increased solution tonicity directly stimulate glycoconjugate (GC) secretion from airway cells.
- To determine the cellular response of swine tracheal submucosal gland cells (TSGCs) to these stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Isolated swine TSGCs were used to measure GC secretion rates.
- Cells were exposed to varying temperatures (37°C vs. 32°C) and tonicities (isotonic vs. hypertonic by 30 mosM).
- A lectin-based assay quantified GC release in perfusate fractions.
Main Results:
- Basal GC secretion was significantly higher at 32°C compared to 37°C.
- At 37°C, hypertonicity increased GC secretion, with a transient surge upon return to isotonicity.
- At 32°C, tonicity changes had less impact, but a transient increase occurred upon return to isotonicity.
Conclusions:
- Cold and hypertonicity, key triggers for airflow obstruction, directly stimulate airway GC secretion.
- Increased GC secretion likely contributes to the productive cough associated with exercise-induced asthma in response to cold air.