Objectives/Hypothesis . To determine if laryngopharyngeal reflux alters mucin gene expression in laryngeal mucosa. Methods . In situ hybridization was employed to study the expression of the 8 well-characterised mucin genes MUC1-4, 5AC, 5B, 6, and 7 in reflux laryngeal mucosa from laryngeal ventricles, posterior commissures, and vocal folds compared to control/normal laryngeal mucosa. Results . MUC1-5 genes are expressed in normal and reflux laryngeal mucosa. MUC1, 3 and 4 are expressed in respiratory and squamous mucosa whereas MUC2 and 5AC are expressed in respiratory mucosa only. MUC3, 4 and 5AC are downregulated in reflux mucosa. MUC5AC expression is significantly reduced in the 3 mucosal sites and when mucosal type was taken into account, this remains significant in combined laryngeal and ventricular mucosa only. Conclusions . MUC3, 4 and 5AC expression is downregulated in laryngopharyngeal reflux. This may be due to laryngeal mucosal metaplasia and/or alteration of mucin gene expression in the preexisting mucosa. Altered mucin gene expression might predispose laryngeal mucosa to the damaging effect of reflux.
CITATION STYLE
Ali, M. E.-S., Bulmer, D. M., Dettmar, P. W., & Pearson, J. P. (2014). Mucin Gene Expression in Reflux Laryngeal Mucosa: Histological and In Situ Hybridization Observations. International Journal of Otolaryngology, 2014, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/264075
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