BPIFB1 Antibody / LPLUNC1

The upper respiratory tract is the main place of entry for pathogens to invade the body, and early recognition of bacterial products in this region is crucial for host defense. Palate lung nasal epithelial clone PLUNC (or LUNX) is an airway specific secretory protein that is expressed in epithelial tissues and submucosal glands of the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract of humans, mice, rats and cows. PLUNC binds to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in nasal lavage fluid (NLF) which points to its role in the inflammatory response of the upper airways after exposure to irritants. Decreased levels of PLUNC occur in the NLF of smokers and people who have been exposed to reactive epoxy chemicals, indicating that long-term exposure to airway irritants impairs the production of PLUNC in the upper respiratory tract. Abnormal expression of PLUNC may influence susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the Chinese population.