MUCINS COVERING THE CERVIX AND VAGINA

粘蛋白是高度糖基化的糖蛋白，在表面形成保护凝胶 身体湿润的表面上皮。 在女性生殖道中， 子宫颈上皮及其腺体分泌粘蛋白，其功能 保护子宫和阴道。 使用分子技术 G.I. 的特征和呼吸道粘蛋白产生 有价值的信息和技术技能尚未应用于 一种系统地研究粘蛋白表达和功能的方法 女性生殖道上皮细胞。 该提案汇集了 女性生殖医学专家的共同努力 生物学、眼表粘蛋白表征和细胞生物学、克隆 胃粘蛋白的产生、粘蛋白特异性抗体的产生及其 在组织中的定位。 合作者提出了 4 个具体目标。 目标 我要确定宫颈和阴道上皮是否表达任何 表征粘蛋白（粘蛋白 1-7）。 目标 II 是确定宫颈和 阴道上皮表达独特的粘蛋白。 目标 III 是确定如何 解剖区域、年龄和月经周期影响模式 所鉴定的粘蛋白的表达。 目标 IV 是根据数据进行分析 在目标 I-III 中获得，粘蛋白粘附在阴道上皮上并存在 在使用杀精剂和冲洗剂之前和之后在阴道中。 技术 所使用的方法包括RNA印迹、原位杂交和 免疫组织化学，使用探针来表征粘蛋白。 表达 使用去糖基化宫颈粘蛋白抗体的克隆技术将 用于寻找独特的粘蛋白。 比较性Northern印迹， 将进行原位杂交和免疫组织化学以确定 解剖区域、年龄和月经周期对粘蛋白的影响 表达。 用于研究局部试剂对体内粘蛋白的影响 阴道，滤纸条衍生表面的免疫组织化学 粘液和上皮细胞，以及阴道液的 ELISA 检测 使用源自 Aims I-III 的抗体。 这些研究将提供 有关粘蛋白 mRNA 和蛋白表达的基本信息，并将提供 检查局部试剂和病理学影响的工具 宫颈/阴道粘液层。

Mucins are highly glycosylated glycoproteins form a protective gel over the wet surfaced epithelia of the body. In the female reproductive tract, the epithelium of the cervix and its glands secrete mucins which function in defense of the uterus and vagina. Use of molecular techniques for characterization of the G.I. and respiratory tract mucins has yielded valuable information and technical skills which have yet to be applied in a systematic way to the study of mucin expression and function in the female reproductive tract epithelia. This proposal brings together a collaborative effort by experts in female reproductive medicine and biology, ocular surface mucin characterization and cell biology, cloning of gastric mucins, production of mucin-specific antibodies and their localization in tissues. The collaborators propose 4 specific aims. Aim I is to determine if cervical and vaginal epithelia express any of the characterized mucins (mucins 1-7). Aim II is to determine if cervical and vaginal epithelia express unique mucins. Aim III is to determine how anatomical region, age, and menstrual cycle influence pattern of expression of the identified mucins. Aim IV is to assay, based on data obtained in Aims I-III, mucins adherent to vaginal epithelium and present in vagina before and after use of a spermicide and douche. Techniques to be used include northern blotting, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, using probes to characterized mucins. Expression cloning techniques using antibodies to deglycosylated cervical mucins will be employed to search for unique mucins. Comparative northern blotting, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry will be done to determine effects of anatomical region, age, and menstrual cycle on mucin expression. For study of effects of topical reagents on mucins in and on the vagina, immunohistochemistry of filter-paper strip-derived surface mucus and epithelial cells, and ELISA assay of vaginal fluids will be done using antibodies derived from Aims I-III. These studies will provide basic information on mucin mRNA and protein expression and will provide tools for examining effects of topical reagents and pathology on cervical/vaginal mucus coat.