David J Thornton

..g., asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The roles of these enormous, multifunctional, O-linked glycoproteins in health and disease are discussed...

..This ultimately affects the morphology and proliferation of growth plate chondrocytes, eventually leading to chondrodysplasia and reduced long bone growth...

..The results suggested that oligomeric MUC5B in saliva is assembled into much larger linear or branched assemblies through calcium-mediated protein cross-links...

..We performed similar studies with a mouse model of Schmid metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, but again this treatment did not improve the phenotype...

..Furthermore, we have also determined that the matrilin-3 A-domain appears to bind exclusively to the COL3 domain of type IX collagen and that this binding is abolished in the presence of a disease causing mutation in type IX collagen...

..Our results suggest that unlike human saliva, which contains MUC5B, cow, horse and rat saliva are a heterogeneous mixture of Muc5b and Muc19. The functional consequence of these species differences remains to be elucidated...

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..Therefore, we hypothesized that the polymeric mucin composition or properties may be different in the sputum from individuals with COPD and smokers without airflow obstruction...

..These findings support the contention that ER stress may play a direct role in the pathogenesis of many connective tissue disorders associated with the expression of mutant extracellular matrix proteins...

..Thus, for the first time, we identify a single mucin, Muc5ac, as a direct and critical mediator of resistance during intestinal nematode infection...

..This study will form the basis for future studies to analyze the contribution of these two mucins to equine airways pathology associated with mucus accumulation...

..Such studies will provide a clearer perception of airways mucosal protection and may highlight specific components as potential targets for therapeutic strategies for the treatment of hypersecretory disease...

..These data indicate that this oligomeric mucin follows a similar assembly to the von Willebrand factor glycoprotein to yield long linear disulfide-linked chains...

..Our data demonstrate that both the MRH and G2B domains of Gtb1p contribute to the Glc2 trimming event but that the MRH domain is essential for Glc1 trimming...

..However, during a T(H)2-mediated worm expulsion response, serpins, Muc5ac and increased levels of Muc2 protect the barrier from degradation by the nematode secreted protease(s)...

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..Notes along with each section advice the researcher on best practice and describe any associated limitations of a particular technique from which the researcher can further develop a particular protocol...

..Nevertheless, the precise role of mucins in host defense in nematode infection is not known. We investigated the role of the mucin (Muc2) in worm expulsion and host immunity in a model of nematode infection...

..There is a requirement for the standardisation of A. fumigatus allergen extracts used both in clinical diagnosis of A. fumigatus allergy and in research studies...

..Finally, we show that the amounts and glycosylated variants of the MUC5AC and MUC5B mucins can be altered significantly in diseased airways with, for instance, an increase in the low-charge form of the MUC5B mucin in CF and COPD mucus...

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..Taken together, these data demonstrate that the IIICS region of FN is a novel zinc-binding module...

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..In this study we used random mutagenesis to produce two murine models of inflammatory bowel disease, characterised the basis and nature of the inflammation in these mice, and compared the pathology with human ulcerative colitis...