Epithelial mucin stores are increased in the large airways of smokers with airflow obstruction

AL Innes, PG Woodruff, RE Ferrando, S Donnelly… - Chest, 2006 - Elsevier
Background Habitual cigarette smoking is associated with chronic mucus hypersecretion,
but the relationship between mucus abnormalities and airflow obstruction in smokers is
uncertain. Methods We collected bronchial biopsy samples and epithelial brushings from 24
smokers with and without airflow obstruction and 19 nonsmoking healthy control subjects.
Epithelial mucin stores, mucin immunostains, and goblet cell morphology were quantified in
bronchial biopsy samples using stereology, and mucin gene expression was quantified in …