Abstract
BM180 is a novel basement membrane component with a role in regulated tear secretion by lacrimal acinar cells. BM180 bears some sequence similarity to alpha-gliadin, a plant protein against which antibodies have been reported in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. A precedent for plantlike sequence in the mammalian genome is provided by selectins, which possess a plant lectinlike domain involved in inflammatory cell homing. Cloning the mouse and human BM180 gene will aid molecular investigation of lacrimal acinar cell-BM180 interactions and may lead to a new molecular understanding of mechanisms contributing to dry eye.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies / blood
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Basement Membrane / metabolism
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Cell Adhesion Molecules / biosynthesis*
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Cell Adhesion Molecules / chemistry
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Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
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Cloning, Molecular
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Eye Proteins / metabolism*
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Gliadin / chemistry
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Gliadin / immunology
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Humans
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Lacrimal Apparatus / metabolism*
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Mammals
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Mice
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Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
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Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
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Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
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Sjogren's Syndrome / immunology
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Tears / physiology
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Triticum / metabolism
Substances
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Antibodies
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BM180 protein, mouse
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Cell Adhesion Molecules
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Eye Proteins
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Recombinant Proteins
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tear proteins
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Gliadin