1. Academic Validation
  2. Mucins: Structural diversity, biosynthesis, its role in pathogenesis and as possible therapeutic targets

Mucins: Structural diversity, biosynthesis, its role in pathogenesis and as possible therapeutic targets

  • Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2018 Feb:122:98-122. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2017.12.006.
Suresh Sulekha Dhanisha 1 Chandrasekharan Guruvayoorappan 2 Sudarsanan Drishya 1 Prathapan Abeesh 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Laboratory of Immunopharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre, Medical College Campus, Thiruvananthapuram 695011, Kerala, India.
  • 2 Laboratory of Immunopharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre, Medical College Campus, Thiruvananthapuram 695011, Kerala, India. Electronic address: immunopharmacologyrcc@gmail.com.
Abstract

Mucins are the main structural components of mucus that create a selective protective barrier for epithelial surface and also execute wide range of Other physiological functions. Mucins can be classified into two types, namely secreted mucins and membrane bounded mucins. Alterations in Mucin expression or glycosylation and mislocalization have been seen in various types of pathological conditions such as cancers, inflammatory bowel disease and ocular disease, which highlight the importance of Mucin in maintaining homeostasis. Hence mucins can be used as attractive target for therapeutic intervention. In this review, we discuss in detail about the structural diversity of mucins; their biosynthesis; its role in pathogenesis; regulation and as possible therapeutic targets.

Keywords

Pathogenesis; Secreted mucins; Therapeutic agents; Transmembrane mucins.

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