Distribution of MUC1 in the normal human oral cavity is localized to the ducts of minor salivary glands

The change in expression of MUC1 from health to disease forms the basis of its use as a potential disease marker. Previous attempts at isolating MUC1 from normal, healthy human oral mucosa have, however, drawn conflicting conclusions as to its presence. Furthermore, when MUC1 was detected in the oral glycocalyx, it was not clear which cells were synthesising it. We examined human oral glycocalyx using pooled buccal smears from 50 normal individuals. Following isopycnic density centrifugation and membrane extraction with octyl glucoside and saponin, MUC1 was detected with the polyclonal antibody CT1. Immunohistochemistry using antibodies CT1 and BC2 was performed on sections from eight labial, seven palatal, four buccal, three retromolar pad, three dorsum of tongue and two ventral surface of tongue biopsies. In-situ hybridisation using MUC1 and cytoplasmic tail oligoprobes on sections from four palatal, seven labial and two retromolar pad biopsies was also carried out. MUC1 mRNA could only be detected in the minor salivary mucous glands. MUC1 has already been identified in the ducts of normal parotid and submandibular gland, and our findings demonstrate a similar distribution in minor salivary glands. We conclude that when present in the normal oral glycocalyx, the only oral source of MUC1 is from cell membranes of the minor salivary glands.