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The Invisible Guard of Human Defense: How Does Mucin Fight Pathogens?
In the human body, mucin, as an important biological macromolecule, has evolved over millions of years to become the main member that protects us from pathogens. These high molecular weight, sugar-rich proteins are not just simple chemicals, but are guard signals sent by each cell, forming a multi-protective chemical barrier to protect various organs and tissues. They paint a beautiful and complex picture of defense in the immune system.
The key property of mucins is their ability to form gel-like substances and function as lubrication, signaling and chemical barriers in physiological environments.
Structure and function of mucin
The structure of mucin consists of two main regions: the amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions, which are hypoglycosylated but rich in cysteine. Disulfide bonds can form between these cysteine residues, enhancing the stability of mucins. The central PTS region consists of multiple repeated amino acid sequences with a large number of O-linked oligosaccharides, which gives mucin a strong hydration ability and helps maintain the stability of the mucosal barrier.
The role of mucins in fighting bacterial and fungal infections cannot be underestimated. For example, MUC5B can effectively reduce the attachment of pathogenic bacteria and biofilm formation in the oral cavity.
The disease resistance of mucin
Research has found that MUC5B plays an extremely important role in the oral cavity and female reproductive tract and can significantly reduce the attachment of tooth decay bacteria-Streptococcus mutans rather than directly killing these bacteria. This property promotes the establishment of a healthy oral microbiome, keeping it diverse. Not only that, mucin also shows significant effects in fighting other pathogens, such as Candida, Helicobacter pylori and even HIV.
Clinical significance of mucin
With the deepening of scientific research, mucin has been found to be overexpressed in many disease processes, especially in proliferative adenocarcinomas, including adenocarcinomas of the pancreas, lung, breast and ovary. This makes mucin a potential biomarker in the diagnosis of malignant tumors such as ovarian cancer and breast cancer. In addition, mucin has been shown to have a profound impact on disease progression in studies of lung diseases, including asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Mucin excess is often a symptom of pathological conditions such as fluorinated edema, which reminds us of the close connection and balance of mucin in the human body.
Mucin applications in cosmetics
In recent years, mucin has been widely popular in the cosmetics market due to its moisturizing and skin repairing properties, especially skin care products based on snail secretions. However, as demand increases, some counterfeit products have also begun to enter the market. Consumers need to choose carefully to avoid adverse skin reactions.
Summary
In our daily lives, mucin silently performs its important physiological functions, showing its indispensable value whether it is fighting infection or serving as a front-end guard for cosmetics. When we think about how these tiny molecules protect our health, we can’t help but ask: What other revolutionary changes will mucin bring to medicine and skin care in the future?
