Recently, Professor Tang Xiaoxiao’s research team from the lab published an online review paper entitled “Abnormal Airway Mucus Secretion Induced by Virus Infection” in the official journal Frontiers in Immunology (IF=7.561) of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS).

Research Background

Mucus secretion and clearance is one of the important host defense mechanisms of the respiratory tract, and the mucosal barrier is the first line of defense on the surface of the respiratory tract. Viral invasion can cause overexpression of mucoprotein (the main component of mucus) and abnormal mucus secretion, which can lead to airway obstruction and disease development. Taking COVID-19 as an example, multiple teams reported that the respiratory tract of patients with COVID-19 was obstructed by mucus, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 affects the airway mucus secretion. Mucus obstruction in small airways has serious consequences, not only obstructing the airway, but also causing secondary infections, but its specific mechanism is unknown, so targeted treatment clinically is impossible. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 and its intervention strategies causing abnormal airway mucus secretion to reduce the incidence of patients with symptoms like airway mucus obstruction, reduce the chance of mild patients from developing into severe or critical state, and reduce the mortality of patients in severe and critical state.

Summary

Besides, the research systematically explained the clinical and experimental evidence of abnormal airway mucus secretion induced by seven viruses including IV, RSV, RV, PIV, hMPV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, summarized the interaction of epithelial cells, immune cells, and cytokines related to mucus secretion (see Figure 1) after the virus invades the respiratory tract, and deeply analyzed the molecular mechanism of the virus-induced abnormal airway mucus secretion (see Figure 2). In the summary and prospects, we further summarized the common or unique mechanisms and possible causes of the abnormal airway mucus secretion induced by different viruses, and focused on the research status and potential treatment of the abnormal airway mucus secretion induced by SARS-CoV-2, providing an important theoretical basis for clinical treatment.

Figure 1 The abnormal airway mucus secretion induced by viruses

Figure 2 The molecular mechanism of virus causing abnormal airway mucus secretion