FIGURE 5.

Carbamyl-ovalbumin rather than brominated ovalbumin induces mucin expression. A–E, representative PAS-hematoxylin staining of primary human airway epithelial cells after incubation with 80 μg/ml of modified versus non-modified ovalbumin for 3 days. Ovalbumin modifications include carbamylated ovalbumin generated either by reaction with reagent OCN⁻ or exposure to the EPO/SCN⁻/H₂O₂ complete system as described under “Experimental Procedures,” or brominated ovalbumin generated either by reaction with reagent HOBr or by exposure to the complete EPO/Br⁻/H₂O₂ system as described under “Experimental Procedures.” F, computer-assisted quantification of mean PAS staining area in cells cultured in a 24-well plate after exposure to different modified ovalbumin for 3 days. Each treatment was performed in biological duplicates with 4 pictures taken under microscopy for each condition. The PAS positive staining is shown in red and cumulative random area of 216.5 × 165.0 μm for each treatment was integrated using ImagePro software. Scatter plots indicate individual replicates and the mean ± S.E. is indicated.