MUC1/episialin: a critical barrier in the female reproductive tract

DeSouza, Mary M.; Surveyor, Gulnar A.; Price, Roger E.; Julian, JoAnne; Kardon, Rachele; Zhou, Xinhui; Gendler, Sandra J.; Hilkens, John; Carson, Daniel D.

doi:10.1016/s0165-0378(99)00046-7

Cited by 147 publications

(111 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…MUC1 is a highly glycosylated transmembrane protein, expressed on mucosal surfaces of the stomach, lung, and amnion. Muc1 knockout mice have been found to have chronic uterine infection caused by overgrowth of normal bacteria of the reproductive tract (22). The structure and expression patterns of mucin proteins suggest that they may protect the mucous membranes by sterically inhibiting bacterial access to the cell membrane.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene expression patterns in human placenta

Sood¹,

Zehnder²,

Druzin

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

390

283

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The placenta is the principal metabolic, respiratory, excretory, and endocrine organ for the first 9 months of fetal life. Its role in fetal and maternal physiology is remarkably diverse. Because of the central role that the placenta has in fetal and maternal physiology and development, the possibility that variation in placental gene expression patterns might be linked to important abnormalities in maternal or fetal health, or even variations in later life, warrants investigation. As an initial step, we used DNA microarrays to analyze gene expression patterns in 72 samples of amnion, chorion, umbilical cord, and sections of villus parenchyma from 19 human placentas from successful full-term pregnancies. The umbilical cord, chorion, amnion, and villus parenchyma samples were readily distinguished by differences in their global gene-expression patterns, many of which seemed to be related to physiology and histology. Differentially expressed genes have roles that include placental trophoblast secretion, signal transduction, metabolism, immune regulation, cell adhesion, and structure. We found interindividual differences in expression patterns in villus parenchyma and systematic differences between the maternal, fetal, and intermediate layers. A group of genes that was expressed in both the maternal and fetal villus parenchyma sections of placenta included genes that may be associated with preeclampsia. We identified sets of genes whose expression in placenta was significantly correlated with the sex of the fetus. This study provides a rich and diverse picture of the molecular variation in the placenta from healthy pregnancies.microarray ͉ pregnancy ͉ transcriptome ͉ preeclampsia T he placenta is a temporary organ that performs the functions of several adult organs for the growing fetus. The placenta is designed uniquely for exchange of oxygen, nutrients, antibodies, hormones, and waste products between the mother and fetus and may carry valuable information about the pregnancy. Although a placenta after delivery is among the most easily accessible human tissues, it is usually discarded after a cursory evaluation (1). Several pregnancy disorders including preeclampsia (PE) and preterm labor are associated with placental pathology. Also, epidemiologic studies suggest that there are ''fetal origins'' that predispose adults to cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine diseases (2). Also, low-birth-weight fetuses associated with large placentas are associated with increased neonatal morbidity indicating abnormal placental activity in such scenarios (3, 4). The investigation of placenta may provide valuable insights into placental functions and help identify molecular mechanisms that have both immediate and long lasting effects on health of the fetus.A schematic representation of the placenta is given in Fig. 1, with both the placental disk proper and the reflected membranes. The placenta is a composite organ of trophectoderm-derived cells and cells that are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM)͞epiblast, and a minor co...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene expression patterns in human placenta

Sood¹,

Zehnder²,

Druzin

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

390

283

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The principal cysteine-rich, cationic, antimicrobial peptides expressed in the bovine endometrium include b-defensins, lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), and tracheal antimicrobial peptide (TAP), and their transcripts are more abundant in the face of microbial challenge (Davies et al 2008, Chapwanya et al 2013. Other surface molecules that may help to protect the endometrium include the mucins; evidence for their role includes genetic deletion of Muc1 in mice, which is associated with chronic inflammation of the lower female reproductive tract by opportunistic bacterial infections (DeSouza et al 1999). The expression of mRNA encoding acute-phase proteins in the uterus and ovary is also of interest, because they may provide further localised protection , Lecchi et al 2012, Chapwanya et al 2013).…”

Section: Innate Immunitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Innate immunity and inflammation of the bovine female reproductive tract in health and disease

Sheldon¹,

Cronin²,

Healey³

et al. 2014

Reproduction

124

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Mammalian reproductive physiology and the development of viviparity co-evolved with inflammation and immunity over millennia. Many inflammatory mediators contribute to paracrine and endocrine signalling, and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis in the female reproductive tract. However, inflammation is also a feature of microbial infections of the reproductive tract. Bacteria and viruses commonly cause endometritis, perturb ovarian follicle development and suppress the endocrine activity of the hypothalamus and pituitary in cattle. Innate immunity is an evolutionary ancient system that orchestrates host cell inflammatory responses aimed at eliminating pathogens and repairing damaged tissue. Pattern recognition receptors on host cells bind pathogen-associated molecular patterns and damage-associated molecular patterns, leading to the activation of intracellular MAPK and NFkB signalling pathways and the release of inflammatory mediators. Inflammatory mediators typically include the interleukin cytokines IL1b and IL6, chemokines such as IL8, interferons and prostaglandins. This review outlines the mechanisms of inflammation and innate immunity in the bovine female reproductive tract during health and disease condition.

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“…The expression of multiple cell-surface mucins with similar functional roles may explain why Muc1 null mice show no obvious signs of epithelial pathology (29), although these mice are also yet to be tested comprehensively with epithelial challenges. Interestingly, when Muc1 null mice were removed from a pathogen-free environment, they developed ocular and reproductive tract bacterial infections, implicating cell surface mucins in protection from epithelial bacterial infections (30,31).…”

Section: Fig 10 Glycosylation Of Muc13mentioning

confidence: 99%

MUC13, a Novel Human Cell Surface Mucin Expressed by Epithelial and Hemopoietic Cells

Williams

Wreschner

Tran

et al. 2001

Journal of Biological Chemistry

275

245

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Transmembrane mucins are glycoproteins involved in barrier function in epithelial tissues. To identify novel transmembrane mucin genes, we performed a tblastn search of the GenBank EST data bases with a serine/ threonine-rich search string, and a rodent gene expressed in bone marrow was identified. We determined the cDNA sequence of the human orthologue of this gene, MUC13, which localizes to chromosome band 3q13.3 and generates 3.2-kilobase pair transcripts encoding a 512-amino acid protein comprised of an N-terminal mucin repeat domain, three epidermal growth factor-like sequences, a SEA module, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail (GenBank accession no. AF286113). MUC13 mRNA is expressed most highly in the large intestine and trachea, and at moderate levels in the kidney, small intestine, appendix, and stomach. In situ hybridization in murine tissues revealed expression in intestinal epithelial and lymphoid cells. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the human MUC13 protein on the apical membrane of both columnar and goblet cells in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as within goblet cell thecae, indicative of secretion in addition to presence on the cell surface. MUC13 is cleaved, and the ␤-subunit containing the cytoplasmic tail undergoes homodimerization. Including MUC13, there are at least five cell surface mucins expressed in the gastrointestinal tract.

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MUC1/episialin: a critical barrier in the female reproductive tract

Cited by 147 publications

References 53 publications

Gene expression patterns in human placenta

Gene expression patterns in human placenta

Innate immunity and inflammation of the bovine female reproductive tract in health and disease

MUC13, a Novel Human Cell Surface Mucin Expressed by Epithelial and Hemopoietic Cells

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