Hypersection of mucus in the lungs is inhibited by the administration of anepidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) antagonist. The EGF-R antagonist maybe in the form of a small organic molecule, an antibody, or portion of anantibody that binds to and blocks the EGF receptor. The EGF-R antagonist ispreferably administered by injection in an amount sufficient to inhibitformatio of goblet cells in pulmonary airways. The degranulation of gobletcells that results in airway mucus production is thereby inhibited. Assays forscreening candidate agents that inhibit goblet cell proliferatio are alsoprovided.
