Transcriptional regulation of tracheo-bronchial mucin (TBM) gene by ethanol.

The epithelia of the respiratory tract are protected by a mucin glycoprotein. The expression of mucin changes when epithelia come in contact with toxic agents such as ethanol. Previously, we have identified and characterized the expression of a tracheo-bronchial mucin (TBM) gene. In the present study, we observed that ethanol regulates TBM expression at the transcription level. Ethanol enhanced the expression of TBM mRNA in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HBE1 cells. At 100 mM concentration (a concentration reported to be present in alcoholics), ethanol induced an eight-fold increase in TBM transcription as determined by reporter gene expression analysis.