Mucins are the gatekeepers of the mucosal barrier of the gastrointestinal tract and are aberrantly expressed in various gastrointestinal pathologies, including pathogen infection, inflammation, and uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Although several studies have emphasised the role of mucins in dysfunction of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier, they are often still considered to be passive mediators of this barrier instead of regulators or modulators. In this Review, we discuss the interactions between mucins and gastrointestinal barrier function during health and disease. We will focus on the bidirectional relationship between mucins and the gut microbiota and will also address the molecular mechanisms involved in key cell signalling pathways, such as inflammation, cell interactions, and cell differentiation, proliferation, and survival. Additionally, we highlight the potential use of mucins in the diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, such as chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer.

粘蛋白是胃肠道粘膜屏障的守门人，在各种胃肠道病变中异常表达，包括病原体感染、炎症和异常细胞不受控制的生长和扩散。尽管有几项研究强调了粘蛋白在胃肠道粘膜屏障功能障碍中的作用，但它们通常仍被认为是该屏障的被动介质，而不是调节剂或调节剂。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了健康和疾病期间粘蛋白与胃肠道屏障功能之间的相互作用。我们将专注于粘蛋白和肠道微生物群之间的双向关系，还将探讨参与关键细胞信号通路的分子机制，例如炎症、细胞相互作用以及细胞分化、增殖、和生存。此外，我们强调了粘蛋白在慢性炎症性疾病和癌症等胃肠道疾病的诊断、随访和治疗中的潜在用途。