{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,5]],"date-time":"2026-09-05T19:18:59Z","timestamp":1788635939381,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"21","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,2]],"date-time":"2023-11-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1698883200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region","award":["2022D01F86"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2022D01F86"]}]},{"name":"the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region","award":["2023-YBNY-123"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2023-YBNY-123"]}]},{"name":"Shaanxi Natural Science Foundation","award":["2022D01F86"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2022D01F86"]}]},{"name":"Shaanxi Natural Science Foundation","award":["2023-YBNY-123"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2023-YBNY-123"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The function of endometrial epithelial cells is to secrete various substances that are rich in growth factors and nutrients. These substances support both embryo implantation and its subsequent development into a fetus. A vast number of mucins are expressed in endometrial epithelial cells, and they play an important role in regulating the processes of embryo implantation, pregnancy, and parturition. Previous studies have shown that mucin forms a mucus layer covering endometrial epithelial cells, which helps resist damage from foreign bacteria and their toxins. Therefore, this article aims to investigate the location of mucins in the endometrium, the mechanism of mucin secretion by the endometrium, and the regulation of mucins in the uterine epithelium by reproductive hormones, as well as the role of mucins in the protection of the epithelium\u2019s structure. This research aims to provide a foundational understanding for future studies on the role and mechanism of endometrial mucins throughout the pregnancy cycle.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms242115896","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,2]],"date-time":"2023-11-02T09:16:21Z","timestamp":1698916581000},"page":"15896","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["Mechanism Underlying the Regulation of Mucin Secretion in the Uterus during Pregnancy"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"24","author":[{"given":"Mengru","family":"Zhou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tian","family":"Tian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chenchen","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"581","DOI":"10.22358\/jafs\/67133\/2005","article-title":"The role of cytokines and adhesion molecules in maternal recognition and establishment of pregnancy in pig","volume":"14","author":"Bogacki","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Anim. Feed. Sci."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"266","DOI":"10.1210\/endo.139.1.5750","article-title":"Progesterone and implanting blastocysts regulate Muc1 expression in rabbit uterine epithelium","volume":"139","author":"Hoffman","year":"1998","journal-title":"Endocrinology"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1015446626671","article-title":"Mucins and blastocyst attachment","volume":"3","author":"Thathiah","year":"2002","journal-title":"Rev. Endocr. Metab. Disord."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"487","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.physiol.70.113006.100638","article-title":"Regulated airway goblet cell mucin secretion","volume":"70","author":"Davis","year":"2008","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1977","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.2007.149310","article-title":"Munc13-2\u2212\/\u2212 baseline secretion defect reveals source of oligomeric mucins in mouse airways","volume":"586","author":"Zhu","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"C46","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpcell.00397.2004","article-title":"Barrier role of actin filaments in regulated mucin secretion from airway goblet cells","volume":"288","author":"Ehre","year":"2005","journal-title":"Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"459","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.physiol.70.113006.100702","article-title":"Structure and function of the polymeric mucins in airways mucus","volume":"70","author":"Thornton","year":"2008","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1591","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1118133","article-title":"Vesicle formation at the plasma membrane and trans-Golgi network: The same but different","volume":"313","author":"McNiven","year":"2006","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"L591","DOI":"10.1152\/ajplung.00150.2007","article-title":"Regulation of airway goblet cell mucin secretion by tyrosine phosphorylation signaling pathways","volume":"293","author":"Abdullah","year":"2007","journal-title":"Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell Mol. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"945","DOI":"10.2337\/diabetes.49.6.945","article-title":"Synergism of protein kinase A, protein kinase C, and myosin light-chain kinase in the secretory cascade of the pancreatic beta-cell","volume":"49","author":"Yu","year":"2000","journal-title":"Diabetes"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113177","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecoenv.2022.113177","article-title":"Mechanism of endometrial MUC2 in reproductive performance in mice through PI3K\/AKT signaling pathway after lipopolysaccharide treatment","volume":"231","author":"Zhang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1007503919265","article-title":"Scinderin, a Ca2+-dependent actin filament severing protein that controls cortical actin network dynamics during secretion","volume":"25","author":"Marcu","year":"2000","journal-title":"Neurochem. Res."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S164","DOI":"10.1513\/AnnalsATS.201806-371AW","article-title":"Airway Mucin Secretion","volume":"15","author":"Jaramillo","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ann. Am. Thorac. Soc."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2204","DOI":"10.3390\/cells10092204","article-title":"Role of MicroRNA in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Clinical Evidence and the Development of Preclinical Animal Models","volume":"10","author":"Suri","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cells"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"412","DOI":"10.1038\/nature12807","article-title":"Muc5b is required for airway defence","volume":"505","author":"Roy","year":"2014","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kaul, S., Mittal, S.K., Feigenbaum, L., Kruhlak, M.J., and Roche, P.A. (2015). Expression of the SNARE protein SNAP-23 is essential for cell survival. PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0118311"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhu, Y., Abdullah, L.H., Doyle, S.P., Nguyen, K., Ribeiro, C.M., Vasquez, P.A., Forest, M.G., Lethem, M.I., Dickey, B.F., and Davis, C.W. (2015). Baseline Goblet Cell Mucin Secretion in the Airways Exceeds Stimulated Secretion over Extended Time Periods, and Is Sensitive to Shear Stress and Intracellular Mucin Stores. PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0127267"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"312","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ymeth.2013.09.004","article-title":"Real-time imaging of exocytotic mucin release and swelling in Calu-3 cells using acridine orange","volume":"66","author":"Shumilov","year":"2014","journal-title":"Methods"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"383","DOI":"10.1042\/BJ20120057","article-title":"Munc18b is an essential gene in mice whose expression is limiting for secretion by airway epithelial and mast cells","volume":"446","author":"Kim","year":"2012","journal-title":"Biochem. J."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6281","DOI":"10.1038\/ncomms7281","article-title":"The polymeric mucin Muc5ac is required for allergic airway hyperreactivity","volume":"6","author":"Evans","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1635","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2016.01.018","article-title":"In vivo and in vitro studies of MUC1 regulation in sheep endometrium","volume":"85","author":"Raheem","year":"2016","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brayman, M., Thathiah, A., and Carson, D.D. (2004). MUC1: A multifunctional cell surface component of reproductive tissue epithelia. Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol., 2.","DOI":"10.1186\/1477-7827-2-4"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1530\/REP-09-0424","article-title":"Hyaluronan (HA) content, the ratio of HA fragments and the expression of CD44 in the ovine cervix vary with the stage of the oestrous cycle","volume":"140","author":"Perry","year":"2010","journal-title":"Reproduction"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anireprosci.2013.10.015","article-title":"Altering n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios affects prostaglandin production by ovine uterine endometrium","volume":"143","author":"Cheng","year":"2013","journal-title":"Anim. Reprod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3358","DOI":"10.3390\/cells10123358","article-title":"The Impact of MicroRNAs during Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Effects on the Mucus Layer and Intercellular Junctions for Gut Permeability","volume":"10","author":"Stiegeler","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cells"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11688","DOI":"10.3748\/wjg.v21.i41.11688","article-title":"Colitis-associated colon cancer: Is it in your genes?","volume":"21","author":"Gros","year":"2015","journal-title":"World J. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1097\/MIB.0000000000000955","article-title":"An Overview of the Innate and Adaptive Immune System in Inflammatory Bowel Disease","volume":"23","author":"Choy","year":"2017","journal-title":"Inflamm. Bowel Dis."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e944446","DOI":"10.4161\/21688362.2014.944446","article-title":"MicroRNAs regulate tight junction proteins and modulate epithelial\/endothelial barrier functions","volume":"2","author":"Cichon","year":"2014","journal-title":"Tissue Barriers"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1038","DOI":"10.1097\/MEG.0000000000000430","article-title":"Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers of adult Crohn\u2019s disease","volume":"27","author":"Jensen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1724","DOI":"10.1093\/ecco-jcc\/jjaa134","article-title":"Whole Blood Profiling of T-cell-Derived microRNA Allows the Development of Prognostic models in Inflammatory Bowel Disease","volume":"14","author":"Kalla","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Crohns Colitis"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e13973","DOI":"10.14814\/phy2.13973","article-title":"Endotoxin-induced cerebral pathophysiology: Differences between fetus and newborn","volume":"7","author":"Feng","year":"2019","journal-title":"Physiol. Rep."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9972","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms23179972","article-title":"The Mechanism of Lipopolysaccharide\u2019s Effect on Secretion of Endometrial Mucins in Female Mice during Pregnancy","volume":"23","author":"Lu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Mol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"916933","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2022.916933","article-title":"Endotoxins Induced ECM-Receptor Interaction Pathway Signal Effect on the Function of MUC2 in Caco2\/HT29 Co-Culture Cells","volume":"13","author":"Hu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2387","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2019.02387","article-title":"Uterine Immunity and Microbiota: A Shifting Paradigm","volume":"10","author":"Agostinis","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1021094","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2022.1021094","article-title":"Mucin-degrading gut commensals isolated from healthy faecal donor suppress intestinal epithelial inflammation and regulate tight junction barrier function","volume":"13","author":"Pan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e40","DOI":"10.1093\/ibd\/izy258","article-title":"Clinical Potential of Anti-inflammatory Effects of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Butyrate in Inflammatory Bowel Disease","volume":"25","author":"Sitkin","year":"2019","journal-title":"Inflamm. Bowel Dis."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8070","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms22158070","article-title":"Bifidobacterium bifidum Enhances the Intestinal Epithelial Tight Junction Barrier and Protects against Intestinal Inflammation by Targeting the Toll-like Receptor-2 Pathway in an NF-\u03baB-Independent Manner","volume":"22","author":"Dharmaprakash","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Mol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.3389\/fgene.2015.00081","article-title":"Mucin glycan foraging in the human gut microbiome","volume":"6","author":"Tailford","year":"2015","journal-title":"Front. Genet."},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"178","article-title":"Faecal microbiota transplantation for treatment of recurrent or refractory Clostridioides difficile infection in Hong Kong","volume":"25","author":"Lui","year":"2019","journal-title":"Hong. Kong Med. J."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3655","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.04050-14","article-title":"Akkermansia muciniphila Adheres to Enterocytes and Strengthens the Integrity of the Epithelial Cell Layer","volume":"81","author":"Reunanen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Appl. Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"718356","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2021.718356","article-title":"Inflammatory and Microbiota-Related Regulation of the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier","volume":"8","author":"Barbara","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1516","DOI":"10.1136\/gutjnl-2019-318427","article-title":"Leaky gut: Mechanisms, measurement and clinical implications in humans","volume":"68","author":"Camilleri","year":"2019","journal-title":"Gut"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1038\/nature16161","article-title":"Tuft-cell-derived IL-25 regulates an intestinal ILC2-epithelial response circuit","volume":"529","author":"Ji","year":"2016","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"479","DOI":"10.1111\/joim.12910","article-title":"Mucus and mucins in diseases of the intestinal and respiratory tracts","volume":"285","author":"Hansson","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Intern. Med."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e196","DOI":"10.1038\/ctg.2016.54","article-title":"Human Intestinal Barrier Function in Health and Disease","volume":"7","author":"Wells","year":"2016","journal-title":"Clin. Transl. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"769","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-biochem-011520-105053","article-title":"Mucins and the Microbiome","volume":"89","author":"Hansson","year":"2020","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"514","DOI":"10.1038\/s41577-021-00506-1","article-title":"Diversity and dynamism of IgA-microbiota interactions","volume":"21","author":"Huus","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"240929","DOI":"10.1242\/jcs.240929","article-title":"Membrane mucins of the intestine at a glance","volume":"133","author":"Pelaseyed","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Cell Sci."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"457","DOI":"10.1093\/femsre\/fuz013","article-title":"Experimental models to study intestinal microbes-mucus interactions in health and disease","volume":"43","author":"Chassaing","year":"2019","journal-title":"FEMS Microbiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"582","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chom.2015.10.007","article-title":"Normalization of Host Intestinal Mucus Layers Requires Long-Term Microbial Colonization","volume":"18","author":"Johansson","year":"2015","journal-title":"Cell Host Microbe"},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.1242\/jcs.193482","article-title":"The mucosal barrier at a glance","volume":"130","author":"France","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Cell Sci."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"625","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcmgh.2016.05.005","article-title":"Epithelial Regeneration After Gastric Ulceration Causes Prolonged Cell-Type Alterations","volume":"2","author":"Aihara","year":"2016","journal-title":"Cell Mol. Gastroenterol. Hepatol."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"907","DOI":"10.1083\/jcb.201009141","article-title":"Dynamics of adherens junctions in epithelial establishment, maintenance, and remodeling","volume":"192","author":"Baum","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Cell Biol."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.1007\/s00441-017-2679-8","article-title":"Development of an in vitro model to study uterine functions and early implantation using rat uterine explants","volume":"370","author":"Islam","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cell Tissue Res."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"897","DOI":"10.1530\/REP-13-0654","article-title":"Possible roles of the cAMP-mediators EPAC and RAP1 in decidualization of rat uterus","volume":"147","author":"Kusama","year":"2014","journal-title":"Reproduction"},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"575","DOI":"10.1007\/s00441-008-0734-1","article-title":"In vitro decidualization of rat endometrial stromal cells","volume":"335","author":"Matsumoto","year":"2009","journal-title":"Cell Tissue Res."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"523","DOI":"10.1111\/asj.12318","article-title":"Development of an in vitro model for the analysis of bovine endometrium using simple techniques","volume":"86","author":"Yamauchi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Anim. Sci. J."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gene.2007.12.014","article-title":"Architecture of the large membrane-bound mucins","volume":"410","author":"Desseyn","year":"2008","journal-title":"Gene"},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1923","DOI":"10.1002\/ibd.22908","article-title":"AIEC colonization and pathogenicity: Influence of previous antibiotic treatment and preexisting inflammation","volume":"18","author":"Drouet","year":"2012","journal-title":"Inflamm. Bowel Dis."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Molecular Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/24\/21\/15896\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T21:15:59Z","timestamp":1760130959000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/24\/21\/15896"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,2]]},"references-count":59,"journal-issue":{"issue":"21","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,11]]}},"alternative-id":["ijms242115896"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijms242115896","relation":{},"ISSN":["1422-0067"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1422-0067","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,2]]}}}