Mucociliary clearance in health and disease
Smoking
Smoking reduces ciliary beat frequency and interrupts the coordinated action of the mucociliary escalator. With prolonged smoking exposure, cilia may cease beating completely. This results in a build up of inhaled pathogens in the distal airways of smokers, predisposing them to repeated lower respiratory tract infections. Once an individual stops smoking, after a period of time, the cilia may regain function and begin to clear the secretions retained in the airways as a result of smoking. This may explain why individuals report an increase in secretions following smoking cessation.
We now know what factors are essential for effective mucociliary clearance to occur and have explored some of the factors impacting on the mucociliary escalator. To bring the topic of mucociliary clearance in health and disease to an end we now need to consider the effect or consequences of impaired mucociliary action on respiratory function.
Summary:
- Reduces ciliary beat frequency
- Impairs co-ordinated action
- Cilia may regain function following smoking cessation
