Expression of membrane-bound mucins in human nasal mucosa: different patterns for MUC4 and MUC16.
OBJECTIVE
To acquire basic information concerning the function of the membrane-bound mucin MUC16 in nasal mucosa compared with the best-characterized membrane-bound mucin, MUC4.


METHODS
In vitro study using semiquantatitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis and immunoassay.


METHODS
Yeungnam University College of Medicine.


METHODS
We examined the nasal polyps obtained during endoscopic sinus surgery in 10 patients, the normal ethmoid sinus mucosa obtained from 10 patients, and human nasal polyp epithelial (HNPE) cells.


METHODS
Gene expression of MUC4 and MUC16 in nasal polyps and normal nasal mucosa. In addition, we evaluated the effect of 4 physiologically relevant agents, including retinoic acid, interleukin 1beta, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), and dexamethasone, on the expression of MUC4 and MUC16 in HNPE cells at the gene and protein levels.


RESULTS
In nasal polyps, MUC4 was upregulated compared with normal nasal mucosa (P = .009), whereas MUC16 expression did not differ between nasal polyps and normal nasal mucosa. Retinoic acid and interleukin 1beta increased MUC4 expression at the gene and protein level in HNPE cells, whereas MUC16 expression was not affected. Unlike retinoic acid and interleukin 1beta, PMA and dexamethasone increased MUC16 expression, whereas they had no significant effect on MUC4 expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of MUC4 and MUC16 are regulated differently in nasal mucosa. Dexamethasone and PMA are potent mediators for the expression of MUC16 in nasal polyps.
Woo
Hyun-Jae
HJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, 317-1, Daemyung 5-Dong, Nam-Gu, Daegu 705-717, Korea.
Bae
Chang Hoon
CH
Song
Si-Youn
SY
Lee
Heung-Man
HM
Kim
Yong-Dae
YD
D000328:Adult; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D055264:Mucin-4 / Q000032:analysis*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000737:chemistry; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; C451759:MUC16 protein, human; C524658:MUC4 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D055264:Mucin-4; D014212:Tretinoin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate