PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

From common colds to deadly lung diseases, 1 protein plays key role

2013-12-09
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Dan Meyers
dan.meyers@ucdenver.edu
University of Colorado Denver
From common colds to deadly lung diseases, 1 protein plays key role An international team of researchers has zeroed in on a protein that plays a key role in many lung-related ailments, from seasonal coughing and hacking to more serious diseases such as MRSA infections and cystic fibrosis.

The finding advances knowledge about this range of illnesses and may point the way to eventually being able to prevent infections such as MRSA.

The key protein is called MUC5B. It's one of two sugar-rich proteins, with similar molecular structure, that are found in the mucus that normally and helpfully coats airway surfaces in the nose and lung. The other is MUC5AC.

"We knew these two proteins are associated with diseases in which the body produces too much mucus, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and COPD," said researcher Chris Evans, PhD, an associate professor in the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "We also knew that many patients with asthma or COPD have as much as 95 percent less MUC5B in their lungs than healthy individuals, so we wanted to see if one of these is the bad player in chronic lung diseases." The researchers compared mice that lacked one or the other of the proteins. The animals without MUC5B got sick. Those that lacked MUC5AC were fine. The findings, in a paper co-authored by Evans, other CU faculty members and researchers from several other states as well as Mexico and England, were reported today in the journal Nature.

The paper also noted that the immune systems of the mice without Muc5b failed over time. That made the mice more vulnerable to infections including the MRSA "superbug," a major source of infections in hospitals and in the community, especially in people whose immune systems are compromised, such as cancer patients. That has interesting implications for anyone with a runny nose. Getting rid of your mucus may make you more comfortable and may help patients with chronic lung diseases," Evans said. "But if you block it too effectively, this actually could be harmful in the long run. If a treatment gets rid of MUC5B, it may make people more vulnerable to additional infections." An oddity of the proteins being examined is that they are encoded in a part of the human genome that is highly variable. Twenty percent of the population carries a DNA mutation that makes them produce about 30 times more MUC5B than normal. More research is needed to learn whether people with that mutation are more or less susceptible to infections, including MRSA, said Evans, who is in the CU medical school's Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine. It's also unclear what's happening at a molecular level that allows MUC5B to help control certain infections. "Knowing the key role of MUC5B allows us now to focus on how the protein works and, we hope, to find ways to help patients with these diseases," Evans said.

### END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Aging and gene expression -- possible links to autism and schizophrenia in offspring

2013-12-09
Aging and gene expression -- possible links to autism and schizophrenia in offspring Advanced paternal age has been associated with greater risk for psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism. With an increase in paternal age, there is a greater frequency ...

Optimal parameter of Neiguan acupuncture for cerebral infarction

2013-12-09
Optimal parameter of Neiguan acupuncture for cerebral infarction The individual difference and non-repeatability in acupuncture have not only restricted the development of acupuncture, but have also affected the specificity of acupoints. As reported in a recent ...

rTMS for hallucination in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

2013-12-09
rTMS for hallucination in schizophrenia spectrum disorders Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation uses a non-invasive and relatively painless tool to stimulate the human brain in vivo using very strong, pulsed magnetic fields. It is also used to explore and ...

Does zinc supplementation reduce aluminum-induced neurotoxicity?

2013-12-09
Does zinc supplementation reduce aluminum-induced neurotoxicity? Studies have shown that aluminum neurotoxicity can likely affect learning and memory function, and a diet containing 100–200 mg/kg zinc is adequate for maintaining learning and memory function in ...

Prion protein can trigger spongiform encephalopathy and neurodegeneration

2013-12-09
Prion protein can trigger spongiform encephalopathy and neurodegeneration Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy or prion disease is triggered by the conversion from cellular prion protein to pathogenic prion protein. Notably, C-transmembrane form of prion protein ...

Cockroach never seen before in US is identified in New York

2013-12-09
Cockroach never seen before in US is identified in New York Analysis by Rutgers researchers confirms an Asian species that can survive in cold and snow NEWARK, N.J. -- With winter's arrival comes the kind of news that may give New Yorkers the creeps. A species ...

JCI early table of contents for Dec. 9, 2013

2013-12-09
JCI early table of contents for Dec. 9, 2013 Breast cancer prognosis associated with oncometabolite accumulation The metabolic profile of cancer cells can be used to develop therapies and identify biomarkers associated with cancer outcome. In this issue ...

Breast cancer prognosis associated with oncometabolite accumulation

2013-12-09
Breast cancer prognosis associated with oncometabolite accumulation The metabolic profile of cancer cells can be used to develop therapies and identify biomarkers associated with cancer outcome. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation Stefan ...

Choloroquine reduces formation of bone resorbing cells in murine osteoporosis

2013-12-09
Choloroquine reduces formation of bone resorbing cells in murine osteoporosis Bone homeostasis requires precise balance between deposition of new bone by osteoblasts and resorption of old bone by osteoclasts. Bone diseases, including osteoporosis and ...

Ancient fresh water lake on Mars could have sustained life

2013-12-09
Ancient fresh water lake on Mars could have sustained life Scientists have found evidence that there was once an ancient lake on Mars that may have been able to support life Scientists have found evidence that there was once an ancient lake on Mars that ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Salk scientist Joseph Ecker awarded McClintock Prize for Plant Genetics and Genome Studies

ADHD: Women are diagnosed five years later than men, despite symptoms appearing at the same age.

Power plants may emit more pollution during government shutdowns

Increasing pressures for conformity de-skilling and demotivating teachers, study warns

Researchers develop smarter menstrual product with potential for wearable health monitoring

Microwaves for energy-efficient chemical reactions

MXene current collectors could reduce size, improve recyclability of Li-ion batteries

Living near toxic sites linked to aggressive breast cancer

New discovery could open door to male birth control

Wirth elected Fellow of American Physical Society

The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Ahead-of-Print Tip Sheet: October 10, 2025

Destined to melt

Attitudes, not income, drive energy savings at home

The playbook for perfect polaritons

‘Disease in a dish’ study of progressive MS finds critical role for unusual type of brain cell

Solar-powered method lights the way to a ‘de-fossilized’ chemical industry

Screen time linked to lower academic achievement among Ontario elementary students

One-year outcomes after traumatic brain injury and early extracranial surgery in the TRACK-TBI Study

Enduring outcomes of COVID-19 work absences on the US labor market

Affirmative action repeal and racial and ethnic diversity in us medical school admissions

Cancer progression illuminated by new multi-omics tool

Screen time and standardized academic achievement tests in elementary school

GLP-1RA order fills and out-of-pocket costs by race, ethnicity, and indication

Study finds HEPA purifiers alone may not be enough to reduce viral exposure in schools

UVA Health developing way to ID people at risk of dangerous lung scarring even before symptoms appear

How can we know when curing cancer causes myocarditis?

Male infertility in Indian men linked to lifestyle choices and hormonal imbalances

An acoustofluidic device for sample preparation and detection of small extracellular vesicles

The advent of nanotechnology has ushered in a transformative era for oncology, offering unprecedented capabilities for targeted drug delivery and controlled release. This paradigm shift enhances thera

A prototype LED as thin as wallpaper — that glows like the sun

[Press-News.org] From common colds to deadly lung diseases, 1 protein plays key role