Airway secretion: a cell-specific analysis.

Respiratory mucus is a complex secretion elaborated by several cell types in the airway wall: serous and mucous gland cells in the submucosa, and ciliated and goblet cells in the epithelium. The cell types are under independent regulatory mechanisms, most of which are poorly understood. Two new approaches are described which permit analysis of these mechanisms and the role of each cell type in mucus production. Using cell-specific monoclonal antibodies, we have obtained biochemical information about mucus components contributed by the various cell types. Antibodies are also being used in enzyme immunoassays (ELISA) to detect cell-specific secretion from mixed cell biopsies. In other studies, analysis of secretory products from pure cultures of serous gland cells has revealed that the major glycoconjugates released by this cell type are chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid and N-linked glycoproteins of complex type.