Abstract
Mucociliary transport system is an important defense mechanism of the respiratory system and its function needs coordination of mucous layer and ciliary movement. Sinobronchial syndrome causes chronic inflammatory diseases of upper and lower respiratory systems and mucociliary dysfunction is a characteristic morbid status of the respiratory systems. Factors related to mucociliary function can be classified into quality of the mucous layer, structure of the system and ciliary function. Cilioinhibitory factors previously reported are as follows: 1) A low molecular glycoproteins and family of proteins purified from materials of patients with cystic fibrosis, asthma, etc., 2) Serine protease from patients with bronchiectasis, probably neutrophil elastase, 3) major basic protein (MBP) and eosinophil cationic protein, 4) metabolites of arachidonic acid. In this study MBP, leukotriene C4, leukotriene D4, prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2α and platelet activating factor were tested on effect on ciliary activity using a newly developed apparatus with a VTR system and changes in mucosal surface profile of humans were observed following these substance challenges at a concentration of 10-6M. These mediators except for prostaglandin E2 caused mucosal damage such as ciliodyskinesis, ciliostasis and exfoliation of the cells and resulted in coarse profile of the mucosal surface within several hours at a concentration of 10-6M suggesting their possible destructive action to the mucosa.
