Biology of reproductionDec 22, 1998

MUC4 and MUC5B are the main mucin messenger RNAs in the human cervical lining

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Updated Apr 1, 2026

Abstract

MUC4 and MUC5B are the principal mucin transcripts in the human endocervix, with MUC4 present in 15 of 21 samples.

Three large gel-forming mucins, MUCs 5AC, 5B, and 6, along with MUC4, are expressed by the endocervical epithelium.
Relative abundance of mucin gene transcripts was assessed in samples obtained from six subjects across different menstrual cycle stages.
Semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that MUC4 and MUC5B transcripts are predominant in the human endocervix.
MUC4 transcript levels were found to be inversely related to progesterone levels in plasma.
MUC5B message levels also showed an inverse relationship with progesterone, suggesting a potential modulation by steroid hormones.

Simplified

Mucins secreted by the endocervical epithelium protect the surfaces of the reproductive tract epithelium from pathogen penetrance and modulate sperm entry into the uterus. Three large gel-forming mucins, MUCs 5AC, 5B, and 6, are expressed by the endocervical epithelium, as is MUC4, a relatively uncharacterized mucin for which only tandem repeat sequence has been reported. We sought to determine the relative abundance of each of these mucin gene transcripts and to relate their expression to blood progesterone and estradiol. Samples were obtained from six subjects at successive stages in the menstrual cycle. Primers to nontandem repeat sequences of MUCs 4, 5AC, 5B, and 6 were used in semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to determine relative abundance of each mucin gene in relation to beta2-microglobulin message control. In order to design primers from a nontandem repeat region of MUC4 so that MUC4 message levels could be quantitated, we obtained approximately 2.7-kilobase nontandem repeat sequence 5' to the tandem repeat sequence of a MUC4 genomic clone. The sequence showed lack of cysteine-rich D-domains and was rich in serine and threonine. Semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses indicated that the principal mucin transcripts of human endocervix are MUC4 and MUC5B, with MUC4 predominant in 15 of 21 samples. When correlated with plasma steroid levels, message levels of both MUC4 and MUC5B were inversely related to progesterone levels.

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MUC4 and MUC5B are the main mucin messenger RNAs in the human cervical lining

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