title: In vivo imaging of the Muc5b gel-forming mucin.
abstract: Gel-forming mucins are macromolecules produced by goblet cells and responsible for the mucus gel formation. Changes in goblet cell density and in gel-forming mucin production have emerged as sensitive indicators for mucosal diseases. A Muc5b-GFP tagged reporter mouse was used to assess Muc5b production in mouse tissues by immunofluorescence microscopy and fluorescent activity using stereromicroscopy and probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy. Muc5b production was followed longitudinally by recording the fluorescent activity in vagina and in embryonic lung explants under stimulation by interleukin 13. We show that the GFP is easily visualized in the mouse adult ear, nose, trachea, gallbladder, and cervix. Live Muc5b is also easily monitored in the nasal cavity, trachea and vagina where its production varies during the estrus cycle with a peak at the proestrus phase and in pregnant mice. Explant culture of reporter mouse embryonic whole lung shows that interleukin 13 stimulates Muc5b production. The transgenic Muc5b-GFP mouse is unique and suitable to study the mechanisms that regulate Muc5b production/secretion and mucous cell differentiation by live imaging and can be applied to test drug efficacy in mucosal disease models.
authors.affiliation: LIRIC UMR 995, Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Portal
authors.affiliation: LIRIC UMR 995, Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gouyer
authors.affiliation: LIRIC UMR 995, Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Mylène
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnien
authors.affiliation: LIRIC UMR 995, Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Ségolène
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plet
authors.affiliation: LIRIC UMR 995, Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrand
authors.affiliation: LIRIC UMR 995, Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Desseyn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D055257:Mucin-5B / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism; D014621:Vagina / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13; D055257:Mucin-5B