Although mucin glycoproteins are major functional constituents of the pre- ocular tear film, little is known about their molecular identity, synthesis or secretion. Molecular studies of human intestinal respiratory and mammary mucins have led to the identification and partial sequencing of eight distinct mucin species (MUCl-MUC8). Different mucosal tissues have unique protective requirements which are reflected by tissue specific differences in mucin expression and/or secretion. The overall goal of the proposed studies is to define the contribution of conjunctival mucins to the human tear film. The hypothesis to be investigated is that ocular mucins consist of several distinct gene products the secretion of which may be differentially regulated. We propose to use molecular biological, immunological, morphological and pharmacological approaches to investigate mucins gene expression and secretion in normal human conjunctiva.
The Aims of this project are: 1. Identification of mucin gene products in human conjunctival tissue. 2. Localization of regional and cellular sites of conjunctival mucin gene expression. 3. Analysis of mucin composition and secretion in the preocular tear film. The proposed studies will be among the first, in any system, to explore the relationship between mucin gene expression and secretion. Investigation of biochemical pathways governing synthesis, storage and release of mucin may suggest novel molecular approaches to control of ocular mucin production.
| Imbert, Yoannis; Darling, Douglas S; Jumblatt, Marcia M et al. (2006) MUC1 splice variants in human ocular surface tissues: possible differences between dry eye patients and normal controls. Exp Eye Res 83:493-501 |
| Imbert, Yoannis; Jumblatt, Marcia M; Foulks, Gary N et al. (2006) Expression in human ocular surface tissues of the GalNAc-transferases that initiate mucin-type O-glycosylation. Cornea 25:1193-9 |
| Jumblatt, Marcia M; Imbert, Yoannis; Young Jr, William W et al. (2006) Glycoprotein 340 in normal human ocular surface tissues and tear film. Infect Immun 74:4058-63 |
| Jumblatt, Marcia M; McKenzie, Richard W; Steele, Pamela S et al. (2003) MUC7 expression in the human lacrimal gland and conjunctiva. Cornea 22:41-5 |
| Jumblatt, James E; Cunningham, Lauren T; Li, Yang et al. (2002) Characterization of human ocular mucin secretion mediated by 15(S)-HETE. Cornea 21:818-24 |
| McKenzie, R W; Jumblatt, J E; Jumblatt, M M (2000) Quantification of MUC2 and MUC5AC transcripts in human conjunctiva. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41:703-8 |
| Jumblatt, M M; McKenzie, R W; Jumblatt, J E (1999) MUC5AC mucin is a component of the human precorneal tear film. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 40:43-9 |
| Jumblatt, J E; Jumblatt, M M (1998) Regulation of ocular mucin secretion by P2Y2 nucleotide receptors in rabbit and human conjunctiva. Exp Eye Res 67:341-6 |
| Jumblatt, J E; Jumblatt, M M (1998) Detection and quantification of conjunctival mucins. Adv Exp Med Biol 438:239-46 |
