Expression of colonic mucins (MUC1, MUC4, MUC17, MUC2, and MUC5AC) and O-glycans [Sialyl LewisA (CA19-9) and Tn/Sialyl-Tn on MUC1] were analyzed in HP (n=33), SSA/P (n=39), and tubular adenoma (TA) (n=36) samples by immunohistochemistry.
HP infection is the most definite insult leading to GC, and a protective function of mucin 1 protein has been suggested by studies on Muc1 knocked-out mice.
We suggest that hyperplastic polyps are formed of a lineage that both synthesizes and secretes trefoil-peptides and the MUC1 mucin and that hyperplastic polyps may be related to the phenotypically similar ulceration-associated cell lineage.