Methods Tracheal or bronchial tissue samples were obtained from donated human lungs from 6 asthmatics, 4 COPD and 7 control subjects. Tissue sections were analyzed by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Immuno-labeling was performed with mouse monoclonal antibodies for alpha 1 Na-K ATPase, lactoferrin, MUC5AC and rabbit monoclonal anti-Vn from abcam; as well as mouse monoclonal anti-MUC5B from
