Carson D D, DeSouza M M, Kardon R, Zhou X, Lagow E, Julian J
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
Hum Reprod Update. 1998 Sep-Oct;4(5):459-64. doi: 10.1093/humupd/4.5.459.
Reproductive tract epithelia are characterized by the presence of a thick, apical glycocalyx. This glycoprotein coat is drastically reduced in the uterus of many species during the time of embryo implantation. Recent studies indicate that mucin glycoproteins constitute a large proportion of the apical glycocalyx. One of these mucins, Muc-1, has particularly important functions at the luminal surface of the uterus and other female reproductive tract tissues. Muc-1 appears to play a dominant role in maintaining a functionally non-receptive uterine surface with regard to blastocyst attachment. Conversion to a receptive uterine state is brought about by the concerted actions of ovarian steroid hormones that in several species also strongly modulate Muc-1 protein and mRNA expression. Muc-1 also appears to serve a general function in protecting reproductive tract mucosa since Muc-1 null mice are particularly prone to bacterial infection. Collectively, these studies indicate that mucins, including Muc-1, play important barrier roles in reproductive processes and protection from bacterial pathogenesis in the female reproductive tract.
生殖道上皮的特征是存在一层厚厚的顶端糖萼。在许多物种的胚胎着床期，子宫中的这种糖蛋白外衣会大幅减少。最近的研究表明，黏蛋白糖蛋白占顶端糖萼的很大一部分。其中一种黏蛋白，即Muc-1，在子宫腔表面和其他女性生殖道组织中具有特别重要的功能。就胚泡附着而言，Muc-1似乎在维持子宫表面功能上的非接受状态方面起主导作用。卵巢甾体激素的协同作用会使子宫转变为接受状态，在几个物种中，这些激素也会强烈调节Muc-1蛋白和mRNA的表达。Muc-1似乎在保护生殖道黏膜方面也具有一般功能，因为Muc-1基因敲除小鼠特别容易受到细菌感染。总的来说，这些研究表明，包括Muc-1在内的黏蛋白在生殖过程以及女性生殖道免受细菌致病方面发挥着重要的屏障作用。
