RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is unclear whether rhinovirus infections promote mucus secretion in airway epithelial cells. Increase of mucin gene expression and mucin production is associated with mucus hypersecretion. We therefore investigated the effect of rhinovirus infection on mucin gene expression in airway epithelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The effect of rhinovirus-16 infection on the gene expression of MUC- 5AC, MUC5B, MUC6, MUC7, and MUC8 was evaluated using semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in A549 cells. RESULTS: Rhinovirus significantly increased MUC5AC, MUC7, and MUC8 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expressions in A549 cells, but it did not significantly affect the expression of MUC5B and MUC6 mRNA. CONCLUSION: This results show that rhinovirus may induce mucus secretion in airway epithelial cells.