Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2022 Jan;180:114074. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114074. Epub 2021 Dec 4.
Mucins are an ancient group of glycoproteins that provide viscoelastic, lubricating and hydration properties to fluids bathing wet surfaced epithelia. They are involved in the protection of underlying tissues by forming a barrier with selective permeability properties. The expression, processing and spatial distribution of mucins are often determined by organ-specific requirements that in the eye involve protecting against environmental insult while allowing the passage of light. The human ocular surface epithelia have evolved to produce an extremely thin and watery tear film containing a distinct soluble mucin product secreted by goblet cells outside the visual axis. The adaptation to the ocular environment is notably evidenced by the significant contribution of transmembrane mucins to the tear film, where they can occupy up to one-quarter of its total thickness. This article reviews the tissue-specific properties of human ocular mucins, methods of isolation and detection, and current approaches to model mucin systems recapitulating the human ocular surface mucosa. This knowledge forms the fundamental basis to develop applications with a promising biological and clinical impact.
黏蛋白是一组古老的糖蛋白,为湿润表面上皮细胞的液体提供粘弹性、润滑和水合性质。它们通过形成具有选择性渗透性的屏障来参与保护下面的组织。黏蛋白的表达、加工和空间分布通常由特定于器官的要求决定,在眼睛中涉及到防止环境损伤,同时允许光线通过。人类眼表面上皮已经进化到产生一种非常薄和水样的泪膜,其中包含由视觉轴外的杯状细胞分泌的独特可溶性黏蛋白产物。对眼环境的适应明显体现在跨膜黏蛋白对泪膜的重要贡献上,它们可以占据泪膜总厚度的四分之一。本文综述了人眼黏蛋白的组织特异性特性、分离和检测方法,以及目前模拟人眼表面黏膜的黏蛋白系统的方法。这些知识构成了开发具有有前途的生物学和临床影响的应用的基础。