Goblet cells are
simple columnar epithelial cells that secrete gel-forming
mucin
Mucins () are a family of high molecular weight, heavily glycosylated proteins (glycoconjugates) produced by epithelial tissues in most animals. Mucins' key characteristic is their ability to form gels; therefore they are a key component in most ...
s, like
mucin 5AC
Mucin-5AC (MUC-5AC) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MUC5AC'' gene.
MUC-5AC is a large gel-forming glycoprotein. In the respiratory tract it protects against infection by binding to inhaled pathogens that are subsequently removed ...
.
The goblet cells mainly use the
merocrine
Merocrine (or eccrine) is a term used to classify exocrine glands and their secretions in the study of histology. A cell is classified as merocrine if the secretions of that cell are excreted via exocytosis from secretory cells into an epithelia ...
method of secretion, secreting vesicles into a duct, but may use
apocrine
Apocrine () glands are a type of exocrine gland, which are themselves a type of gland, i.e. a group of cells specialized for the release of secretions. Exocrine glands secrete by one of three means: holocrine, merocrine and apocrine. In apocri ...
methods, budding off their secretions, when under stress.
The term ''
goblet
A chalice (from Latin 'mug', borrowed from Ancient Greek () 'cup') or goblet is a footed cup intended to hold a drink. In religious practice, a chalice is often used for drinking during a ceremony or may carry a certain symbolic meaning.
R ...
'' refers to the cell's goblet-like shape. The apical portion is shaped like a cup, as it is distended by abundant mucus laden granules; its basal portion lacks these granules and is shaped like a stem.
The goblet cell is highly polarized with the nucleus and other organelles concentrated at the base of the cell and secretory granules containing mucin, at the apical surface.
The apical plasma membrane projects short
microvilli to give an increased surface area for secretion.
Goblet cells are typically found in the respiratory, reproductive and gastrointestinal tracts and are surrounded by other columnar cells.
Biased differentiation of
airway basal cell Airway basal cells are found deep in the respiratory epithelium, attached to, and lining the basement membrane.
Basal cells are the stem cells or progenitors of the airway epithelium and can differentiate to replenish all of the epithelial cells ...
s in the
respiratory epithelium
Respiratory epithelium, or airway epithelium, is a type of ciliated columnar epithelium found lining most of the respiratory tract as respiratory mucosa, where it serves to moisten and protect the airways. It is not present in the vocal cords o ...
, into goblet cells plays a key role in the excessive mucus production, known as
mucus hypersecretion
Mucus ( ) is a slippery aqueous secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is typically produced from cells found in mucous glands, although it may also originate from mixed glands, which contain both serous and mucous cells. It i ...
seen in many respiratory diseases, including
chronic bronchitis
Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) in the lungs that causes coughing. Bronchitis usually begins as an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses. The infection then makes its way down to the bronchi. ...
, and
asthma
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, co ...
.
Structure
Goblet cells are found scattered among the
epithelial
Epithelium or epithelial tissue is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. It is a thin, continuous, protective layer of compactly packed cells with a little intercell ...
lining of
organs, such as the
intestinal
The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The GI tract contains all the major organs of the digestive system, in humans and ...
and
respiratory tracts. They are found inside the
trachea
The trachea, also known as the windpipe, is a cartilaginous tube that connects the larynx to the bronchi of the lungs, allowing the passage of air, and so is present in almost all air- breathing animals with lungs. The trachea extends from the ...
,
bronchi
A bronchus is a passage or airway in the lower respiratory tract that conducts air into the lungs. The first or primary bronchi pronounced (BRAN-KAI) to branch from the trachea at the carina are the right main bronchus and the left main bronchus. ...
, and larger
bronchioles in the respiratory tract,
small intestines
The small intestine or small bowel is an organ in the gastrointestinal tract where most of the absorption of nutrients from food takes place. It lies between the stomach and large intestine, and receives bile and pancreatic juice through the pa ...
, the
large intestine
The large intestine, also known as the large bowel, is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract and of the digestive system in tetrapods. Water is absorbed here and the remaining waste material is stored in the rectum as feces before bein ...
, and
conjunctiva
The conjunctiva is a thin mucous membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera (the white of the eye). It is composed of non-keratinized, stratified squamous epithelium with goblet cells, stratified columnar epithelium ...
in the upper
eyelid
An eyelid is a thin fold of skin that covers and protects an eye. The levator palpebrae superioris muscle retracts the eyelid, exposing the cornea to the outside, giving vision. This can be either voluntarily or involuntarily. The human eye ...
. In the
conjunctiva
The conjunctiva is a thin mucous membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera (the white of the eye). It is composed of non-keratinized, stratified squamous epithelium with goblet cells, stratified columnar epithelium ...
goblet cells are a source of mucin in
tears
Tears are a clear liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands (tear gland) found in the eyes of all land mammals. Tears are made up of water, electrolytes, proteins, lipids, and mucins that form layers on the surface of eyes. The different types of ...
and they also secrete different types of mucins onto the
ocular
Eyes are organs of the visual system. They provide living organisms with vision, the ability to receive and process visual detail, as well as enabling several photo response functions that are independent of vision. Eyes detect light and con ...
surface. In the
lacrimal gland
The lacrimal glands are paired exocrine glands, one for each eye, found in most terrestrial vertebrates and some marine mammals, that secrete the aqueous layer of the tear film. In humans, they are situated in the upper lateral region of each or ...
s, mucus is
synthesized by
acinar cell
Centroacinar cells are spindle-shaped cells in the exocrine pancreas. They represent an extension of the intercalated duct into each pancreatic acinus. These cells are commonly known as duct cells, and secrete an aqueous bicarbonate solution und ...
s instead.
Microanatomy
Goblet cells are
simple columnar epithelial cells, having a height of four times that of their width. The
cytoplasm
In cell biology, the cytoplasm is all of the material within a eukaryotic cell, enclosed by the cell membrane, except for the cell nucleus. The material inside the nucleus and contained within the nuclear membrane is termed the nucleoplasm. ...
of goblet cells tends to be displaced toward the basal end of the cell body by the large
mucin
Mucins () are a family of high molecular weight, heavily glycosylated proteins (glycoconjugates) produced by epithelial tissues in most animals. Mucins' key characteristic is their ability to form gels; therefore they are a key component in most ...
granules, which accumulate near the
apical
Apical means "pertaining to an apex". It may refer to:
*Apical ancestor, refers to the last common ancestor of an entire group, such as a species (biology) or a clan (anthropology)
*Apical (anatomy), an anatomical term of location for features loc ...
surface of the cell along the
Golgi apparatus
The Golgi apparatus (), also known as the Golgi complex, Golgi body, or simply the Golgi, is an organelle found in most eukaryotic cells. Part of the endomembrane system in the cytoplasm, it packages proteins into membrane-bound vesicles ...
, which lies between the granules and the
nucleus
Nucleus ( : nuclei) is a Latin word for the seed inside a fruit. It most often refers to:
*Atomic nucleus, the very dense central region of an atom
* Cell nucleus, a central organelle of a eukaryotic cell, containing most of the cell's DNA
Nucl ...
. This gives the basal part of the cell a
basophilic
Basophilic is a technical term used by pathologists. It describes the appearance of cells, tissues and cellular structures as seen through the microscope after a histological section has been stained with a basic dye. The most common such dye i ...
staining because of
nucleic acids within the nucleus and
rough endoplasmic reticulum
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is, in essence, the transportation system of the eukaryotic cell, and has many other important functions such as protein folding. It is a type of organelle made up of two subunits – rough endoplasmic reticulum ( ...
staining with
hematoxylin
Haematoxylin or hematoxylin (), also called natural black 1 or C.I. 75290, is a compound extracted from heartwood of the logwood tree ('' Haematoxylum campechianum'') with a chemical formula of . This naturally derived dye has been used as a ...
. Mucin within the granules stains pale in routine
histology
Histology,
also known as microscopic anatomy or microanatomy, is the branch of biology which studies the microscopic anatomy of biological tissues. Histology is the microscopic counterpart to gross anatomy, which looks at larger structures vi ...
sections, primarily because these
carbohydrate
In organic chemistry, a carbohydrate () is a biomolecule consisting of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms, usually with a hydrogen–oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 (as in water) and thus with the empirical formula (where ''m'' may or m ...
-rich proteins are washed out in the
preparation of microscopy samples. However, they stain easily with the
PAS staining method, which colours them magenta.
In
mucicarmine stain Mucicarmine stain is a staining procedure used for different purposes. In microbiology the stain aids in the identification of a variety of microorganisms based on whether or not the cell wall stains intensely red. Generally this is limited to micro ...
s, deep red mucin is found within goblet cell bodies. Goblet cells can be seen in the examples below as the larger, more pale cells.
File:Gray1062.png, An intestinal gland
In histology, an intestinal gland (also crypt of Lieberkühn and intestinal crypt) is a gland found in between villi in the intestinal epithelium lining of the small intestine and large intestine (or colon). The glands and intestinal villi are co ...
from the human intestine with goblet cells visible
File:Gobletcell.jpg, Goblet cell in ileum
The ileum () is the final section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms posterior intestine or distal intestine m ...
File:MultiPhotonExcitation-Fig10-doi10.1186slash1475-925X-5-36.JPEG, Section of mouse intestine, mucus of goblet cells in blue
File:Goblet cells.jpg, Goblet cells in large intestine
The large intestine, also known as the large bowel, is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract and of the digestive system in tetrapods. Water is absorbed here and the remaining waste material is stored in the rectum as feces before bein ...
Function
The main role of goblet cells is to secrete
mucus
Mucus ( ) is a slippery aqueous secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is typically produced from cells found in mucous glands, although it may also originate from mixed glands, which contain both serous and mucous cells. It ...
in order to protect the
mucous membrane
A mucous membrane or mucosa is a membrane that lines various cavities in the body of an organism and covers the surface of internal organs. It consists of one or more layers of epithelial cells overlying a layer of loose connective tissue. It i ...
s where they are found. Goblet cells accomplish this by secreting
mucin
Mucins () are a family of high molecular weight, heavily glycosylated proteins (glycoconjugates) produced by epithelial tissues in most animals. Mucins' key characteristic is their ability to form gels; therefore they are a key component in most ...
s, large
glycoproteins formed mostly by
carbohydrate
In organic chemistry, a carbohydrate () is a biomolecule consisting of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms, usually with a hydrogen–oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 (as in water) and thus with the empirical formula (where ''m'' may or m ...
s. The gel-like properties of mucins are given by its
glycans (bound carbohydrates) attracting relatively large quantities of water.
On the inner surface of the human intestine, it forms a 200
µm thick layer (less in other animals) that lubricates and protects the wall of the organ.
Distinct forms of mucin are produced in different organs: while
MUC2
Mucin 2, oligomeric mucus gel-forming, also known as MUC2, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MUC2'' gene.
Function
This gene encodes a member of the mucin protein family. The protein encoded by this gene, also called mucin 2, is sec ...
is prevalent in the intestine,
MUC5AC
Mucin-5AC (MUC-5AC) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MUC5AC'' gene.
MUC-5AC is a large gel-forming glycoprotein. In the respiratory tract it protects against infection by binding to inhaled pathogens that are subsequently removed ...
and
MUC5B
Mucin-5B (MUC-5B) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MUC5B'' gene
and by ''Muc5b'' gene in mouse. It is one of the five gel-forming mucins. MUC-5B can be found in whole saliva, normal lung mucus, and cervical mucus. In some disease ...
are the main forms found in the human
airway
The respiratory tract is the subdivision of the respiratory system involved with the process of respiration in mammals. The respiratory tract is lined with respiratory epithelium as respiratory mucosa.
Air is breathed in through the nose to ...
.
In the airway, mucus is swept by the
cilia of the
respiratory epithelium
Respiratory epithelium, or airway epithelium, is a type of ciliated columnar epithelium found lining most of the respiratory tract as respiratory mucosa, where it serves to moisten and protect the airways. It is not present in the vocal cords o ...
, in a process called
mucociliary clearance
Mucociliary clearance (MCC), mucociliary transport, or the mucociliary escalator, describes the self-clearing mechanism of the airways in the respiratory system. It is one of the two protective processes for the lungs in removing inhaled particl ...
, and propelled out of the lungs and into the pharynx, which results in the removal of debris and pathogens from the airway.
MUC5AC is overexpressed in
allergic lung inflammation.
Mucins are continuously made and secreted by goblet cells in order to repair and replace the existing mucus layer.
Mucins are stored in granules inside the goblet cells before being released to the
lumen of the organ.
Mucin secretion in the airway may occur via regulated secretion. Secretion may be stimulated by irritants such as
dust
Dust is made of fine particles of solid matter. On Earth, it generally consists of particles in the atmosphere that come from various sources such as soil lifted by wind (an aeolian process), volcanic eruptions, and pollution. Dust in ho ...
and
smoke
Smoke is a suspension of airborne particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-produc ...
, especially in the
airway
The respiratory tract is the subdivision of the respiratory system involved with the process of respiration in mammals. The respiratory tract is lined with respiratory epithelium as respiratory mucosa.
Air is breathed in through the nose to ...
.
Other stimuli are
microbes
A microorganism, or microbe,, ''mikros'', "small") and ''organism'' from the el, ὀργανισμός, ''organismós'', "organism"). It is usually written as a single word but is sometimes hyphenated (''micro-organism''), especially in olde ...
such as viruses and bacteria.
Anomalies in the number of goblet cells are associated with changes in the secretion of mucins, which can result in many of the abnormalities seen in asthma patients, such as clogged airways due to
mucus hypersecretion
Mucus ( ) is a slippery aqueous secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is typically produced from cells found in mucous glands, although it may also originate from mixed glands, which contain both serous and mucous cells. It i ...
, and eventual loss of lung function.
Overexpression of
MUC5AC
Mucin-5AC (MUC-5AC) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MUC5AC'' gene.
MUC-5AC is a large gel-forming glycoprotein. In the respiratory tract it protects against infection by binding to inhaled pathogens that are subsequently removed ...
alone does not result in the pathophysiology seen in
asthma
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, co ...
patients; it is the excessive production along with the speed of secretion that leads to the formation of thick mucus that cannot be removed by cilia or coughing action.
This, in addition to airway narrowing leads to the clogging of the airways, which can be detrimental to health if not treated.
There are other cells that secrete mucus (such as the
foveolar cell
Foveolar cells or surface mucous cells are mucus-producing cells which cover the inside of the stomach, protecting it from the corrosive nature of gastric acid. These cells line the gastric mucosa (mucous neck cells are found in the necks of the ...
s of the
stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow organ in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and many other animals, including several invertebrates. The stomach has a dilated structure and functions as a vital organ in the digestive system. The stomach i ...
) but these are distinguished
histologically
Histology,
also known as microscopic anatomy or microanatomy, is the branch of biology which studies the microscopic anatomy of biological tissues. Histology is the microscopic counterpart to gross anatomy, which looks at larger structures vis ...
from goblet cells.
Role in oral tolerance
Oral tolerance is the process by which the immune system is prevented from responding to antigen derived from food products, as peptides from food may pass into the bloodstream via the gut, which would in theory lead to an immune response. A paper published in ''Nature'' in 2012 has shed some light on the process and implicated goblet cells as having a role in the process.
It was known that
CD103
Integrin, alpha E (ITGAE) also known as CD103 (cluster of differentiation 103) is an integrin protein that in human is encoded by the ''ITGAE'' gene. CD103 binds integrin beta 7 (β7– ITGB7) to form the complete heterodimeric integrin molecule ...
-expressing
dendritic cells of the
lamina propria had a role to play in the induction of oral tolerance (potentially by inducing the differentiation of
regulatory T cells
The regulatory T cells (Tregs or Treg cells), formerly known as suppressor T cells, are a subpopulation of T cells that modulate the immune system, maintain tolerance to self-antigens, and prevent autoimmune disease. Treg cells are immunosu ...
), and this paper suggests that the goblet cells act to preferentially deliver antigen to these CD103
+ dendritic cells.
Clinical significance
Allergic asthma
The excessive mucus production seen in allergic asthma patients is due to goblet cell metaplasia, the
differentiation of airway epithelial cells into mucin producing goblet cells.
These cells produce the thick mucins
MUC5AC
Mucin-5AC (MUC-5AC) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MUC5AC'' gene.
MUC-5AC is a large gel-forming glycoprotein. In the respiratory tract it protects against infection by binding to inhaled pathogens that are subsequently removed ...
and
MUC5B
Mucin-5B (MUC-5B) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MUC5B'' gene
and by ''Muc5b'' gene in mouse. It is one of the five gel-forming mucins. MUC-5B can be found in whole saliva, normal lung mucus, and cervical mucus. In some disease ...
, which clog the airway, leading to the airflow obstruction characteristic of
asthma
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, co ...
.
Goblet cell metaplasia in allergic asthma is due to the action of the
cytokine
Cytokines are a broad and loose category of small proteins (~5–25 kDa) important in cell signaling. Cytokines are peptides and cannot cross the lipid bilayer of cells to enter the cytoplasm. Cytokines have been shown to be involved in autocrin ...
IL-13.
IL-13 binds to the
IL-4Rα receptor and initiates a
STAT6
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) is a transcription factor that belongs to the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) family of proteins. The proteins of STAT family transmit signals from a receptor com ...
signalling response.
Binding of
IL-13 causes
phosphorylation of
tyrosine
-Tyrosine or tyrosine (symbol Tyr or Y) or 4-hydroxyphenylalanine is one of the 20 standard amino acids that are used by cells to synthesize proteins. It is a non-essential amino acid with a polar side group. The word "tyrosine" is from the G ...
residues at the
IL-4Rα.
This results in docking of
STAT6
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) is a transcription factor that belongs to the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) family of proteins. The proteins of STAT family transmit signals from a receptor com ...
monomers, which themselves are phosphorylated and then subsequently leave the receptor and congregate form STAT6
homodimers in the cytoplasm.
These homodimers then enter the
nucleus
Nucleus ( : nuclei) is a Latin word for the seed inside a fruit. It most often refers to:
*Atomic nucleus, the very dense central region of an atom
* Cell nucleus, a central organelle of a eukaryotic cell, containing most of the cell's DNA
Nucl ...
, where they bind to regulatory elements in the DNA, which affects the
transcription
Transcription refers to the process of converting sounds (voice, music etc.) into letters or musical notes, or producing a copy of something in another medium, including:
Genetics
* Transcription (biology), the copying of DNA into RNA, the fir ...
of certain genes involved in mucus production.
Induction of
STAT6
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) is a transcription factor that belongs to the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) family of proteins. The proteins of STAT family transmit signals from a receptor com ...
signaling by
IL-13 leads to increased of expression of
15-lipoxygenase (15-LO-1), which is an enzyme involved in the breakdown of unsaturated fatty acids.
15-lipoxygenase acts by binding to
phospholipids and yields hydroperoxy and epoxy metabolites.
One such metabolite,
15-hydroxyeicosatetranoic acid (15-HETE), is released intracellularly, where it conjugates to
phosphatidylethanolamine
Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is a class of phospholipids found in biological membranes. They are synthesized by the addition of cytidine diphosphate- ethanolamine to diglycerides, releasing cytidine monophosphate. ''S''-Adenosyl methionine can ...
, a phospholipid component.
15-HETE-PE induces expression of the mucin
MUC5AC
Mucin-5AC (MUC-5AC) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MUC5AC'' gene.
MUC-5AC is a large gel-forming glycoprotein. In the respiratory tract it protects against infection by binding to inhaled pathogens that are subsequently removed ...
.
Goblet cell carcinoids
Goblet cell carcinoids are a class of rare tumors that form as a result of an excessive proliferation of both goblet and
neuroendocrine cell
Neuroendocrine cells are cells that receive neuronal input (through neurotransmitters released by nerve cells or neurosecretory cells) and, as a consequence of this input, release messenger molecules (hormones) into the blood. In this way they bri ...
s. The majority of these tumors arise in the
appendix and may present symptoms similar to the much more common
acute appendicitis
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these typical symptoms. Severe complications of a rupt ...
.
The main treatment for localized goblet cells tumors is
removal of the appendix, and sometimes
removal of the right hemicolon is also performed.
Disseminated tumors may require treatment with
chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (often abbreviated to chemo and sometimes CTX or CTx) is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs ( chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. Chemothe ...
in addition to surgery.
Metaplasia
Barrett's esophagus
Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which there is an abnormal (metaplastic) change in the mucosal cells lining the lower portion of the esophagus, from stratified squamous epithelium to simple columnar epithelium with interspersed goblet ce ...
is a
metaplasia
Metaplasia ( gr, "change in form") is the transformation of one differentiated cell type to another differentiated cell type. The change from one type of cell to another may be part of a normal maturation process, or caused by some sort of abno ...
of the esophagus into intestinal epithelium, characterized by the presence of goblet cells.
Treatments
Monoclonal antibodies
Studies of mice given monoclonal
antibodies for
IL-13 results in decreased expression of goblet cells in
asthma
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, co ...
patients.
Some treatments that use anti-IL-13 monoclonal antibodies include
tralokinumab
Tralokinumab sold under the brand names Adtralza (EU/UK) and Adbry (US) among others, is a human monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Tralokinumab targets the cytokine interleukin 13.
The most common side effects in ...
, and
lebrikizumab
Lebrikizumab ( INN) is a humanized monoclonal antibody and an experimental immunosuppressive drug for the treatment of asthma that cannot be adequately controlled with inhalable glucocorticoids. The drug was created by Tanox under the name ''TNX ...
.
These treatments have shown improvements in asthma patients, yet there are still limitations to the use of anti-IL-13 monoclonal antibodies.
Dupilumab
Dupilumab, sold under the brand name Dupixent, is a monoclonal antibody blocking interleukin 4 and interleukin 13, used for allergic diseases such as eczema (atopic dermatitis), asthma and nasal polyps which result in chronic sinusitis. It is ...
is a newer drug that targets the shared receptor of
IL-4 and
IL-13,
IL4Rα.
Since IL-4 and IL-13 have interrelated biological activities,
Dupilumab
Dupilumab, sold under the brand name Dupixent, is a monoclonal antibody blocking interleukin 4 and interleukin 13, used for allergic diseases such as eczema (atopic dermatitis), asthma and nasal polyps which result in chronic sinusitis. It is ...
is a more effective form of treatment as it targets both interleukins.
History
The cells were first noted by
Henle Henle can refer to:
* Friedrich Gustav Jakob Henle, a German physician, pathologist and anatomist (1809–1885)
** Loop of Henle in the kidney, named after Henle
*Fritz Henle, a photographer, known as "Mr. Rollei" for his use of the 2.25" square for ...
in 1837 when studying the lining of the small intestine, seen to be mucus producing by
Leydig
Leydig cells, also known as interstitial cells of the testes and interstitial cells of Leydig, are found adjacent to the seminiferous tubules in the testicle and produce testosterone in the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH). They are polyhedral ...
in 1857 (who was examining the epidermis of fish), and were given their name by
Schulze
Schulze is a German surname, from the medieval office of Schulze, or village official. Notable people with the surname include:
* Andrew Schulze (1896–1982), clergyman and civil rights activist
* William August Schulze, rocket scientist recru ...
in 1867,
Schulze chose the descriptive name "goblet" because of the shape of the cell, rather than a functional name, as he remained uncertain as to the mucous-producing function of the cell.
Nowadays these cells are used in the laboratories to evaluate the intestinal absorption of drug targets with different kits, such as the CacoGoblet.
See also
*
List of human cell types derived from the germ layers
References
External links
Goblet Cells at cvmbs.colostate.edu
{{Authority control
Mucus secreting cells
Epithelial cells
Human cells