粘蛋白研究进展

Research advances in mucin

粘蛋白是分布于人体各种管腔内表面的高分子量糖蛋白,对上皮细胞起重要的保护和润滑作用。近年还发现粘蛋白参与上皮细胞的分化、更新,调节细胞粘附、参与细胞信号转导等,因此,粘蛋白在各种生理、病理过程中均发挥重要作用。本文主要针对粘蛋白结构特点、功能、在肿瘤中的作用最新研究进展做一简要综述。

Mucins are high molecular O-glycosylated proteins expressed by epithelial tissues.The basic function of membrane mucins is to provide protection for vulnerable epithelia by forming a steric barrier against assault and by contributing to the formation of protective extracellular mucin gels.In several cancers,the aberrant expression or glycosylation of mucins contributes to the survival of patients and the proliferation of cancerous cells.Mucins have been identified as markers of adverse prognosis and attractive therapeutic targets.Notably,the findings that certain transmembrane mucins induce transformation and promote tumour progression have provided the experimental basis for demonstrating that inhibitors of their function are effective as anti-tumour agents in preclinical models.