title: Rebamipide increases the mucin-like glycoprotein production in corneal epithelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of tears and the ocular surface due to tear deficiency or excessive tear evaporation. Tear film instability is due to a disturbance in ocular surface mucin leading to a dysfunction of mucin, resulting in dry eye. In this study, we examined the effect of rebamipide, an anti-ulcer agent, on glycoconjugate production, as an indicator of mucin-like glycoprotein in cultured corneal epithelial cells. Further, we investigated the effect of rebamipide on the gene expression of membrane-associated mucins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Confluent cultured human corneal epithelial cells were incubated with rebamipide for 24 h. The glycoconjugate content in the supernatant and the cell extracts was measured by wheat germ agglutinin-enzyme-linked lectin assay combined gel-filtration method. In the experiment on mucin gene expression, cultured human corneal epithelial cells were collected at 0, 3, 6, and 12 h after administration of rebamipide. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the quantity of MUC1, MUC 4, and MUC16 gene expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rebamipide significantly increased the glycoconjugate contents in the supernatant and cell extract. In the mucin gene expression in the cells, rebamipide increased MUC1 and MUC4 gene expression, but did not increase MUC16 gene expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rebamipide promoted glycoconjugate, which has a property as a mucin-like glycoprotein, in human corneal epithelial cells. The increased production was mediated by MUC1 and MUC4 gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatologicals and Ophthalmologicals, Ako Research Institute, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd, Ako, Hyogo, Japan. y_takeji@research.otsuka.co.jp
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeji
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Urashima
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shinohara
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013666:Tears / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006001:Glycoconjugates; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009077:Mucins; D015363:Quinolones; C052785:rebamipide; D000409:Alanine