维甲酸在调节气道黏蛋白表达中的作用

Regulation of muein expression by retinoic acid in respiratory tract

黏液高分泌是许多慢性气道炎症性疾病的重要病理学特征，黏蛋白是气道黏液的主要成分，影响黏液的黏滞弹性和黏液纤毛清除能力。气道慢性炎症时黏蛋白过表达，使疾病加剧不易控制，增加疾病的发病率和病死率。近年来对于黏蛋白的表达调控机制研究取得很大进展，其中维甲酸是维生素A的代谢产物，在调节气道上皮分化和黏蛋白表达的过程中发挥了重要作用。了解维甲酸在黏蛋白表达调节中的作用，将为慢性气道炎症性疾病提供新的治疗方向。

Mucus hypersecretion is characteristic of many chronic airway diseases. Mucins are major mucus glycoprotein components,which are responsible for the visco-elastic properties of secreted mucus and mucociliary clearance. In the airways virtually all forms of airway inflammation are associated with the overproduction of mucin,which can lead to high morbidity and mortality. In recent years, many factors and mechanisms have been elucidated involving in the regulation of mucin genes expressed in the airway. Retinoic acid,metabolite of vitamin A,is an essential element for the differentiation of airway epithelium and in the control of the expression of genes encoding mucin. A more thorough understanding of mucin gene expression regulated by retinoic acid may permit the development of novel therapeutic approaches .for treating chronic airway diseases.