Functional biology of intestinal goblet cells

RD Specian, MG Oliver - American Journal of Physiology …, 1991 - journals.physiology.org
RD Specian, MG Oliver
American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 1991journals.physiology.org
Goblet cells reside throughout the length of the small and large intestine and are
responsible for the production and maintenance of the protective mucus blanket by
synthesizing and secreting high-molecular-weight glycoproteins known as mucins. To
elucidate the role of goblet cells in the biology of the intestinal tract, an overview of the
physiological implications of the mucus gel is presented, including a concise review of the
products secreted by the cell. Because of the unique nature of this highly polarized exocrine …
Goblet cells reside throughout the length of the small and large intestine and are responsible for the production and maintenance of the protective mucus blanket by synthesizing and secreting high-molecular-weight glycoproteins known as mucins. To elucidate the role of goblet cells in the biology of the intestinal tract, an overview of the physiological implications of the mucus gel is presented, including a concise review of the products secreted by the cell. Because of the unique nature of this highly polarized exocrine cell, the maturational reorganization of the cytoarchitecture and the cellular mechanisms by which goblet cells secrete their products are discussed. This includes elucidation of the baseline secretory pathway, which is dependent on the cytoskeleton for granule movement, and the accelerated secretory pathway, which is independent of the cytoskeleton but requires an extracellular signal to occur. Finally, the involvement of goblet cell mucins in the pathophysiology of intestinal neoplasia and ulcerative colitis are presented.
American Physiological Society