黏蛋白家族中MUC5B和MUC7是人体唾液和泪液中的两种主要黏蛋白成分,早期被认为在非特异性免疫应答、黏液构成以及组织功能的维护等方面发挥作用。近年来,它们的一些新功能如抗HIV、协助非黏蛋白功能的发挥等作用逐渐被发现,故其生理和病理意义也因传统观念的修正而得到扩充。由于MUC5B和MUC7在唾液和泪液中的存在方式并不完全相同,对它们在不同环境条件下功能的相似性、差异性和互补性的研究,具有重要的现实意义。
Mucins are a kind of high molecular glycoproteins secreted by exocrine glands and epithelium mucosae. They cover on mucodermis to take an action as defense, lubrication and anti-infection. MUC5B and MUC7 in the mucin family are predominant constituents of the saliva and dacryma. In the early period, they were considered to play the roles in nonspecific immunity, mucus organization and physiological function maintenance. However, recent studies revealed some of their new actions, which highlighted their significance in physiologic and pathologic states. Since the existing patterns of MUC5B and MUC7 are not completely the same, studies on the similarity, variability and complementarity of their functions posses a practical importance.