Mucins and immune reactions to mucins in ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bower disease of undetermined etiology. Mucins, mainly produced by goblet cells, protect colon cells from various kinds of stress. Alteration in the quality or quantity of mucins may be the cause of the disease. Another possible cause is immune reactions to co ion ic cells. Anti-MUC1 antibodies were detected in the sera of patients with UC. Antibodies would destroy the colonic cells through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. We reviewed the significance of mucins as well as humoral and cellular immunity in the pathogenesis of UC. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.