To investigate the genetic identities of the mucins secreted in cystic fibrosis (CF) airways, sputum was collected from five individuals. Samples were separated into gel and sol phases by high-speed centrifugation and the gel phase was extracted in 6 M guanidinium chloride. The ‘insoluble’ residue remaining after extraction of the gel phase was brought into solution by reduction/alkylation. Density-gradient centrifugation in CsCl revealed polydisperse distributions of sialic acid-containing mucins in the gel phase, insoluble residue and sol phase fractions and the degree of variation between the different individuals was low. Antibodies recognizing MUC5AC and MUC5B identified these mucins in each of the fractions. MUC2, however, was present only as a component of the insoluble residue from the gel which accounted for less than 4% by mass of the total mucins. MUC5B and MUC5AC from the gel phase were large oligomeric species composed of disulphide-bond linked subunits and MUC5B was present as two populations with different charge densities which are likely to correspond to MUC5B ‘glycoforms’. The sol phase contained, in addition to MUC5AC and MUC5B, mainly smaller mucins which did not react with the antisera and which were probably degraded. MUC5AC appeared to be enriched in the sol, suggesting that this mucin may be more susceptible to proteolytic degradation than MUC5B. The mucins present in sputum remained broadly similar during acute exacerbation and following antibiotic treatment, although the relative amount of an acidic MUC5B glycoform was decreased during infection.
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December 1999
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Research Article|
November 24 1999
Identification of MUC5B, MUC5AC and small amounts of MUC2 mucins in cystic fibrosis airway secretions
Julia R. DAVIES;
Julia R. DAVIES
1
*Mucosal Biology Group, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Section for Molecular Pathogenesis, Lund University, P.O. Box 94, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail: Julia.Davies@medkem.lu.se).
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Naila SVITACHEVA;
Naila SVITACHEVA
*Mucosal Biology Group, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Section for Molecular Pathogenesis, Lund University, P.O. Box 94, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden
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Louise LANNEFORS;
Louise LANNEFORS
†CF Team, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Lund University Hospital, S-221 85, Lund, Sweden
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Ragnhild KORNFÄLT;
Ragnhild KORNFÄLT
§CF Team, Department of Paediatrics, Lund University Hospital, S-221 85, Lund, Sweden
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Ingemar CARLSTEDT
Ingemar CARLSTEDT
*Mucosal Biology Group, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Section for Molecular Pathogenesis, Lund University, P.O. Box 94, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden
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Biochem J (1999) 344 (2): 321–330.
Article history
Received:
June 03 1999
Revision Received:
August 19 1999
Accepted:
September 10 1999
Citation
Julia R. DAVIES, Naila SVITACHEVA, Louise LANNEFORS, Ragnhild KORNFÄLT, Ingemar CARLSTEDT; Identification of MUC5B, MUC5AC and small amounts of MUC2 mucins in cystic fibrosis airway secretions. Biochem J 1 December 1999; 344 (2): 321–330. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bj3440321
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