Signal transduction molecules associated with the induction and maintenance of airway goblet cell hyperplasia

我们研究了人气道上皮细胞，发现表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）配体TGFα刺激可增加MUC5AC和Bcl-2基因和蛋白的表达，而这些作用可被EGFR和NFκB抑制剂抑制。此外，经EGFR抑制剂预处理后，哮喘模型大鼠粘液分泌增多和气道高反应性减弱。提示EGFR可能作为信号转导分子在气道杯状细胞增生中起重要作用。

We studied human airway epithelial cells and found that stimulation with TGFα, a ligand of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), increased the expression of genes and proteins of MUC5AC and Bcl-2, and that these effects were inhibited by EGFR and NFκB inhibitors. Furthermore, mucus hypersecretion and airway hyperresponsiveness in the rat model of asthma were attenuated by pretreatment with an EGFR inhibitor. These results suggest that EGFR may play an important role as a signal transduction molecule in airway goblet cell hyperplasia.