The role of Nox4 in oxidative stress-induced MUC5AC overexpression in human airway epithelial cells

Mucus hypersecretion is a prominent manifestation in patients with chronic inflammatory airway diseases, and MUC5AC is a major airway mucin. It is well known that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be involved in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory airway diseases. The purpose of this study was to identify which secreted mucin genes are induced by exogenous hydrogen peroxide and the mechanism by which these genes are up-regulated in normal human nasal epithelial (NHNE) cells. Exogenous H₂O₂ induced the ligand-independent activation of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) and the subsequent activation of ERK1 mitogen-activated protein kinase, resulting in the induction of intracellular ROS generation. Through this signal pathway, exogenous H₂O₂ markedly induced overexpression of the MUC5AC gene alone. In addition, Nox4, a subtype of nonphagocytic NADPH oxidase, was found to play a key role in intracellular ROS generation and exogenous H₂O₂-induced MUC5AC gene expression in NHNE cells.