Fernandez-Hermida Yolanda, Grande Giuseppe, Menarguez Micaela, Astorri Anna Laura, Azagra Rafael
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
International Scientific Institute , Italy.
Protein Pept Lett. 2018;25(5):463-471. doi: 10.2174/0929866525666180418122705.
Cervical Mucus (CM) is a viscous fluid produced by the secretory cells of the cervical crypts. The CM undergoes modifications throughout the cycle that make it have different biochemical and biophysical characteristics, becoming a crucial element for the identification of ovulation. Since CM is rich in secreted proteins, it may represent moreover a source of biomarkers for female reproductive tract diseases.
This review is an attempt to collect relevant knowledge about the physicochemical properties and functions of the cervical mucus, including its important role as a clinical marker of female fertility, and draws attention to CM as a source of potential proteomic biomarkers.
All the assessed studies evidenced that the observation of the CM allows the identification of the days with the highest probability of pregnancy. CM proteome changes throughout the menstrual cycle have been revealed. Few proteomic studies on the constitutive protein composition of CM of fertile women have been conducted to date. In the CM of patients affected by endometriosis have been identified some proteins that could represent potential biomarkers of the disease.
There is still limited knowledge about the physicochemical properties and functions of the CM and how these undergo to changes during menstrual cycle. CM is a reliable predictor of fertility. Further characterization of CM proteins would contribute to a better understanding of the key role they have on fertility, reproduction and biological regulation. CM may represent moreover a source of biomarkers for gynecological diseases.
宫颈黏液（CM）是由宫颈隐窝的分泌细胞产生的一种粘性液体。在整个月经周期中，宫颈黏液会发生变化，使其具有不同的生化和生物物理特性，成为识别排卵的关键因素。此外，由于宫颈黏液富含分泌蛋白，它可能代表女性生殖道疾病生物标志物的一个来源。
本综述旨在收集有关宫颈黏液理化性质和功能的相关知识，包括其作为女性生育能力临床标志物的重要作用，并提请注意宫颈黏液作为潜在蛋白质组学生物标志物来源的情况。
所有评估研究均表明，观察宫颈黏液可确定怀孕概率最高的日子。已揭示了宫颈黏液蛋白质组在整个月经周期中的变化。迄今为止，针对有生育能力女性宫颈黏液组成蛋白的蛋白质组学研究较少。在子宫内膜异位症患者的宫颈黏液中已鉴定出一些可能代表该疾病潜在生物标志物的蛋白质。
关于宫颈黏液的理化性质和功能以及它们在月经周期中如何变化的知识仍然有限。宫颈黏液是生育能力的可靠预测指标。对宫颈黏液蛋白质的进一步表征将有助于更好地理解它们在生育、生殖和生物调节中的关键作用。此外，宫颈黏液可能代表妇科疾病生物标志物的一个来源。
