Flavonoids Attenuate Airway Mucin Expression, Production and Secretion Induced by Various Inducers

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

Abstract

Muco-obstructive respiratory disease is caused by changing normal biophysical properties of mucus including alteration of mucin concentration, ion composition and airway surface hydration. Flavonoids are one type of polyphenols which regulate mucin gene expression and consequently inhibit mucus secretion. Thus, this review aimed to discuss the effects of different flavonoids on regulation of various airways mucin gene expression and inhibition of the production of a major airway mucin core protein through the modulation of signaling pathways. Mucin is the major component of mucus and many mucin genes are expressed in the airway including MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC, MUC5B, MUC7, MUC8, MUC11, MUC13, MUC15, MUC19, and MUC20. The protein structures encoded by these genes segregate into three major families: gel-forming mucins (mainly MUC5AC and MUC5B), membrane-associated mucins (MUC1, MUC4, MUC11, MUC13, MUC15, MUC20) and non-gel-forming mucin (MUC7). Airway mucus is consisted of MUC5AC and MUC5B mucins. In the airways of the lungs, mucins are the chief contributor to the viscoelastic property of mucus secretion which is the main barrier to trapping inhaled microbial organism, oxidative pollutants, particulates and airways protection. But mucus hypersecretion is the cause of inflammatory diseases. Hypersecretion of mucin and it’s accumulation in airway lumen are associated with various lung diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis and lung cancer. The regulation of mucin genes expression are complicated and involved in many signaling pathways. Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds which have antiplatelet, antitumor, antiviral, anti-allergic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Certain mechanisms of action are engaged in the biological properties of flavonoids such as free radical scavenging, activation or inactivation of survival genes, transition metal ion chelation and signaling pathways, modulation of inflammatory responses and inhibit the airway mucin gene expression. Keywords: Airway, airway mucin, pulmonary diseases, flavonoids Cite this articleMd. Asaduzzaman Sikder, Md. Zainul Abedin, Md. Abu Zubair, Hyun Jae Lee, Choong Jae Lee. Flavonoids Attenuate Airway Mucin Expression, Production and Secretion Induced by Various Inducers. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmacology. 2019; 9(2):1–13p.