Mucociliary clearance system is the primary innate defense mechanism of the lung. It plays a vital role in protecting airways from microbes and irritants infection. Mucociliary clearance system, which is mediated by the actions of airway and submucosal gland epithelial cells, plays a critical role in a multilayered defense system via secreting fluids, electrolytes, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory proteins, and mucus onto airway surfaces. Changes in environment, drugs or diseases can lead to mucus overproduction and cilia dysfunction, which in turn decrease the rate of mucociliary clearance and enhance mucus gathering. The dysfunction of mucociliary clearance system often occurs in several respiratory diseases, such as primary ciliary dysfunction, cystic fibrosis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are characterized by goblet cell metaplasia, submucosal gland cell hypertrophy, mucus hypersecretion, cilia adhesion, lodging and loss, and airway obstruction.
黏液纤毛清除系统是呼吸道重要的防御机制之一，它在气道上皮抵御病原微生物感染及有毒颗粒刺激中发挥重要作用。黏液纤毛清除系统由气道和黏膜下腺上皮细胞介导，通过在气道表面分泌液体、电解质、抗菌和抗炎蛋白以及黏液，在多层防御系统中发挥关键作用。环境的改变、药物或者疾病均能使气道黏液分泌与纤毛运动异常，导致黏液清除速率下降，进一步加重对黏液纤毛清除系统的破坏。黏液纤毛清除系统障碍常见于原发性纤毛功能障碍、囊性肺纤维化、哮喘和慢性阻塞性肺疾病等慢性呼吸系统疾病，表现为杯状细胞化生和黏膜下腺细胞肥大、黏液高分泌、纤毛倒伏粘连和缺失、气道阻塞。.
Keywords: asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; cystic fibrosis; mucociliary clearance system; primary ciliary dysfunction.