단백질의 양은 immunoblot을 이용하여 비교하였고, mRNA는 RT-PCR로 비교하였다.
MUC4는 덱사메타존을 처치하였을 때 농도와 시간에 따라 감소하고, 에스트로겐 처치시에는 농도와 시간에 따라 증가함을 알 수 있었다.
MUC1은 에스트로겐에 의해서는 농도와 시간에 따라 변화를 보이지 않았던 반면, 덱사메타존에 의해서는 증가하였다. 덱사메타존의 MUC4 감소 효과와 MUC1 증가 효과는 부신피질호르몬 수용체 길항제인 RU486에 의해 차단되었고, 에스트로겐에 의한 MUC4의 증가 효과는
에스트로겐 수용체 길항제인 tamoxifen에 의해 감소되었다.
본 연구를 통해 스테로이드 호르몬은 각막 상피 세포에서 뮤신의 생성에 관여하며, 이와 같은 작용에 각 호르몬 수용체가 관여함을 알 수 있었다.
[영문]
The mucin gel layer is believed to comprise a major fraction of the tear film. Although the composition of mucins in ocular surface has been revealed, only minor progress has been made in the field of influences of steroid hormones, which comprise some of the most commonly used drugs in ophthalmologic practice, on the expression of mucins in ocular surface.
To examine whether mucin gene expression is influenced by steroid hormones in cultured human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs), the effects of estrogen and dexamethasone on the expression of MUC1 and MUC4, two known mucins produced by corneal epithelial cells were determined. HCECs were cultured in medium supplemented with estrogen or dexamethasone. The modulation of MUC1 and MUC4
expression by estrogen and dexamethasone were investigated by RT-PCR and Western
blot analysis.
The expression of MUC4 mRNA and its protein were enhanced in HCECs by estrogen. Treatment of HCECs with dexamethasone caused a decrease in MUC4 mRNA and its protein. The effects of steroid hormones were abolished by both glucocorticoid antagonist (RU38486) and estrogen antagonist (tamoxifen). Steroid hormones appear to be implicated in the expression of mucin in HCECs. This study supports this role of steroids and furthermore suggests that steroid receptors may be implicated in the induction of its expression. Thus, steroids may be important modulators of