This family includes secretoglobin family 3A member 1 (SCGB3A1) and member 2 (SCGB3A2), also known as uteroglobin-related proteins [1]. They are a small secreted proteins expressed in airway epithelial cells. SCGB3A2, also known as UGRP1, has an important anti-inflammatory activity and is involved in asthma [2,3,4]. SCGB3A2 mediates its anti-inflammatory action through inhibition of ERK and JNK activation [5]. It is also involved in lung development [6] and has anti-fibrotic activity in lung [7].

1: Secretoglobins SCGB3A1 and SCGB3A2 define secretory cell subsets in mouse and human airways. Reynolds SD, Reynolds PR, Pryhuber GS, Finder JD, Stripp BR; Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002;166:1498-1509. PMID:12406855

2: Plasma UGRP1 levels associate with promoter G-112A polymorphism and the severity of asthma. Inoue K, Wang X, Saito J, Tanino Y, Ishida T, Iwaki D, Fujita T, Kimura S, Munakata M; Allergol Int. 2008;57:57-64. PMID:18089940

3: A polymorphism in the human UGRP1 gene promoter that regulates transcription is associated with an increased risk of asthma. Niimi T, Munakata M, Keck-Waggoner CL, Popescu NC, Levitt RC, Hisada M, Kimura S; Am J Hum Genet. 2002;70:718-725. PMID:11813133

4: Uteroglobin-related protein 1 expression suppresses allergic airway inflammation in mice. Chiba Y, Kurotani R, Kusakabe T, Miura T, Link BW, Misawa M, Kimura S; Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2006;173:958-964. PMID:16456148

5: Secretoglobin 3A2 attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation through inhibition of ERK and JNK pathways in bronchial epithelial cells. Wang X, Tanino Y, Sato S, Nikaido T, Misa K, Fukuhara N, Fukuhara A, Saito J, Yokouchi H, Ishida T, Fujita T, Munakata M; Inflammation. 2015;38:828-834. PMID:25117566

6: Role of secretoglobin 3A2 in lung development. Kurotani R, Tomita T, Yang Q, Carlson BA, Chen C, Kimura S; Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008;178:389-398. PMID:18535256

7: Secretoglobin 3A2 Exhibits Anti-Fibrotic Activity in Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis Model Mice. Cai Y, Kimura S; PLoS One. 2015;10:e0142497. PMID:26559674