LAUSR

OBJECTIVE Mucus production and hypersecretion are important pathophysiological features of asthma. Airway mucus secretion is more serious in obese asthma. Therefore, it is of great significance to elucidate the mechanism of asthma airway mucus high secretion in improving the control of asthma and the prognosis of obese asthmatic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Obese asthmatic mice model was established to test the airway resistance and mucin secretion by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Munc18b and Muc5ac expression levels were determined by Western-blotting. Munc18b conditioned knockout mice were adopted to explore the mechanism of Muc5ac high secretion. RESULTS The mice weight increased in obese asthmatic model accompanied by elevated airway resistance. HE staining showed enhanced mucin secretion, which was correlated to weight and airway resistance. Munc18b and Muc5ac expressions significant upregulated in an obese asthmatic mouse model compared with normal control. Muc5ac expression failed to show elevation in Munc18b conditioned knockout mice. CONCLUSIONS Muc5ac high secretion was positively correlated with Munc18b upregulation in obese asthma. Munc18b participated in inducing Muc5ac high expression.