Flavonoids Regulate Airway MUC5AC Mucin Expression through Modulation of Multiple Signalling Pathways

Md. Asaduzzaman Sikder; Md. Zainul Abedin; Md. Abu Zubair; Mohammod Johirul Islam; Choong Jae Lee; Hyun Jae Lee

Abstract

Airway mucus is a component of pulmonary innate immune function and plays very important role in defense against invading pathogenic microbes, chemicals and particles. The protective function of airway mucus is attributed to the viscoelasticity of mucins. Mucins are large glycoproteins play important role in cell–cell adhesion, airways protection, Nuclear-factor kappa B signalling, epidermal growth factor receptor signalling. Eleven mucin genes (among twenty identified mucin genes) have been expressed at either the mRNA or protein level in airways. In the airways, the presence of mucin at epithelial surfaces prevents desiccation of underlying cells, trap foreign and endogenous particles, and protect against pathogen adhesion and invasion. However, Mucus hypersecretion is one of the major causes of inflammatory diseases. Mucin, especially Muc5ac is the major component of mucus. Hypersecretion of Muc5ac mucin and its aggregation in airway lumenal surfaces leading to various pulmonary diseases, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, asthma, and bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Flavonoids are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds. They are classified into flavonols, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, catechins, anthocyanidins, and chalcones according to their chemical structures. Recent reports have shown the valuable effects of flavonoids as antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory agents. Several mechanisms of action are involved in the biological properties of flavonoids such as free radical scavenging, transition metal ion chelation, activation or inactivation of survival genes and signalling pathways, and modulation of inflammatory responses. The anti-inflammatory effects of flavonoids associated to respiratory diseases. Thus, this review aims to discuss the effects of different flavonoids on regulation of airway MUC5AC mucin gene expression and inhibition the production of a major mucin (Muc5ac) core protein through the modulation of signalling pathways. Keywords: Airway, MUC5AC, flavonoids, pulmonary diseasesCite this Article Md. Asaduzzaman Sikder, Md. Zainul Abedin, Md. Abu Zubair et al. Flavonoids Regulate Airway MUC5AC Mucin Expression through Modulation of Multiple Signalling Pathways. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmacology. 2017; 7(3): 21–33p.