What are the Clinical Implications of Altered Goblet Cell Abundance?
Changes in goblet cell abundance can have significant clinical implications:
Increased Goblet Cells: Conditions such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can lead to an increase in goblet cell numbers. This hypersecretion of mucus can obstruct airways or contribute to chronic inflammation. Decreased Goblet Cells: A reduction in goblet cell numbers can impair mucus production, leading to dry mucous membranes and increased susceptibility to infections and mechanical damage.
