High-resolution atomic force microscopy has been applied to the imaging of intact human ocular mucins in a near-physiological buffer. The mucins displayed a range of lengths from several hundred nanometers to several microns. By varying the ionic composition of the imaging environment, it was possible to image molecules rigidly fixed to the substrate and the motion of single molecules across th...

Histochemical investigations have been carried out on epithelial mucins in the digestive tract of experimental animals (Martin, 1961; Gerard, 1964) and human subjects (Hoskins and Zamcheck, 1963; Schrager, 1964; Lev and Spicer, 1965; Lev, 1965), and different histochemical properties of these mucins have been observed in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Preliminary observations in...

The colonic mucus gel layer (MGL) is a critical component of the innate immune system acting as a physical barrier to microbes, luminal insults, and toxins. Mucins are the major component of the MGL. Selected microbes have the potential to interact with, bind to, and metabolize mucins. The tolerance of the host to the presence of these microbes is critical to maintaining MGL homeostasis. In dis...

Studies on host-pathogen interactions have led to the discovery of various cell surface associated and secretory molecules. Mucins and mucin-like molecules have recently been described in several protozoan parasites, at different stages of the life cycle. These share many structural and compositional features with mammalian mucins, but vary in several other aspects. It is now becoming evident t...

PURPOSE The aim of this work is to present the current views concerning the role and the meaning of human salivary mucins. MATERIAL AND METHODS A review of works dealing with basic information regarding mucins, their role and use in the diagnosis of some of the systematic diseases. RESULTS Human salivary mucins are glycoproteins secreted through epithelial cells of the salivary glands of th...

Transmembrane mucins, MUC4 and MUC16 are associated with tumor progression and metastatic potential in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We discovered that miR-200c interacts with specific sequences within the coding sequence of MUC4 and MUC16 mRNAs, and evaluated the regulatory nature of this association. Pancreatic cancer cell lines S2.028 and T3M-4 transfected with miR-200c showed a 4.18 and ...

Mucins locate to the apical surfaces of all wet-surfaced epithelia including ocular surface. The functions of the mucins include anti-adhesive, lubrication, water retention, allergens and pathogen barrier function. Ocular surface pathologies, i.e. dry eye syndrome or allergic conjunctivitis, are reportedly associated with alteration of expression pattern of mucin components. Recent investigatio...

PURPOSE Mucins are polymers that may reduce drag and enhance tear outflow. Mucin expression and distribution in human efferent tear ducts were tested in the physiological state, and potential differences in the expression pattern were investigated in the presence of primary acquired dacryostenosis (PANDO). METHODS Expression of mucins in human lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal ducts was monitored...