The carbohydrate diversity of human respiratory mucins: a protection of the underlying mucosa?

摘要: Human respiratory mucins consist of a family glycoproteins with different peptides in which glycosylation, the major post-translational phenomenon, is responsible for about 70 to 80% weight these molecules. This glycosylation generates remarkable diversity O-glycosidically linked carbohydrate chains, are expressed as several hundreds chains single person. These can vary from one 20 sugars, may be neutral, sialylated, or sulfated. They bear multiple epitopes. Some antigenic determinants such ABO, Leb antigens secretor individuals, Lea, X Y have been identified. There increasing evidence that, among other functions, this allows many interactions microorganisms and an important factor maintaining sterility tree. In certain pathologic situations cystic fibrosis, associated colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, hypothesis alteration interaction open.