Bronchial mucous gland (None standardly used; sometimes abbreviated as SMG for "submucosal gland")

Bronchial mucous glands are anatomical structures rather than drug targets. They are submucosal glands located in the walls of the bronchi that are lined with respiratory epithelium, representing invaginations of the airway surface epithelium with a tubuloacinar structure containing secretory cells. These glands produce mucus (gel-forming mucins like MUC5B, electrolytes, water, protective proteins), contribute to the airway surface liquid (ASL) for airway protection, aid in mucociliary clearance by trapping inhaled particles, and provide antimicrobial defense by secreting proteins to kill pathogens. Their cellular composition includes mucous cells (expressing MUC5B, MUC19), serous cells (expressing SLPI, lactoferrin, BPI), and ductal cells. Dysfunction of these glands is implicated in obstructive airway diseases such as cystic fibrosis, COPD, and bronchitis. This entity is an anatomical/histological structure, not a molecular target suitable for direct pharmacological intervention. Specific molecular components within these glands (e.g., ion channels, mucin genes, antimicrobial proteins) could be molecular targets, but the gland itself is not.

Other names

submucosal glandSMG