Mucin-5B (MUC5B)

Mucin-5B is a large, gel-forming glycoprotein encoded by the MUC5B gene in humans and is one of the five major secreted polymeric mucins that constitute the structural and functional framework of mucus in various tissues, including the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts[1][3][5]. It is essential for mucociliary clearance in the airways, conferring the viscoelastic and antimicrobial properties necessary for the protective mucus barrier[1][2]. MUC5B is produced and secreted by goblet or mucous cells, and its polymeric network is stabilized by disulfide cross-links, with its conformation regulated by factors such as calcium concentration and pH[1][2]. Overexpression or dysregulation of MUC5B is implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases characterized by mucus obstruction and altered mucus properties, including COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic rhinosinusitis[2][3]. The protein’s unique structure and its prominent role in mucosal health and disease make it a potential target for drug development, especially for treatments aimed at altering mucus properties or reducing pathological mucus accumulation[2].

Other names

Mucin 5BMUC5BMUC-5Boligomeric mucus/gel-forming mucin

Drugs targeting MUC5B would likely function by altering mucin polymerization or depolymerizing mucus to relieve obstruction[2]