Hirschsprung disease-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) leads to significant mortality and morbidity, but its pathogenesis remains unknown. Changes in the colonic epithelium related to goblet cells and the luminal mucus layer have been postulated to play a key role. Here we show that the colonic epithelium of both aganglionic and ganglionic segments are altered in patients and in mice with Hirschs...

PURPOSE To isolate and characterize goblet cells from normal human conjunctival tissue to determine whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors are present and whether EGF can influence goblet cell proliferation. METHODS Goblet cells were isolated from explant cultures established from normal conjunctival tissue harvested from patients during periocular surgery. The cells were grown in RP...

BACKGROUND Goblet cell metaplasia that causes mucus hypersecretion and obstruction in the airway lumen could be life threatening in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Inflammatory cytokines such as IL-13 mediate the transformation of airway ciliary epithelial cells to mucin-secreting goblet cells in acute as well as chronic airway inflammatory diseases. However, no effec...

The topical administration of rebamipide (Mucosta®), an antiulcer agent, clinically increases the mucin level of tear film. The aim of this study was to report the histological changes of goblet cells following the topical administration of rebamipide to a patient with nevus of the lacrimal caruncle. A 62-year-old male exhibited a pigmented nodule located in the lacrimal caruncle in the left ey...

Proliferation of Paneth and goblet cells of mouse duodenal crypts was studied by high resolution light microscope radioautography. In one group of mice, blood levels of thymidine-(3)H were sustained for up to 12 hr by repeated injections of isotope to facilitate identification of proliferating cells. In these animals, many goblet cell nuclei incorporated thymidine-(3)H whereas only 1 of 6261 ta...

Intestinal homeostasis is maintained by a hierarchy of immune defenses acting in concert to minimize contact between luminal microorganisms and the intestinal epithelial cell surface. The intestinal mucus layer, covering the gastrointestinal tract epithelial cells, contributes to mucosal homeostasis by limiting bacterial invasion. In this study, we used γδ T-cell-deficient (TCRδ(-/-)) mice to e...

Previously, we identified Fgfr2 as the major Fgf receptor in liver specification. Expression of Hhex in the liver was reduced in Fgfr2 morphants. Unexpectedly, we found the relative position of the liver and pancreas were disrupted. In addition to visceral organs, we found the heart was randomized in Fgfr2 morphants. Expression patterns of genes controlling laterality including Spaw, lefty1 and...