Assessment of Mucin-Associated Gene Expression Levels on the Ocular Surface.

The ocular surface is covered with a mucus layer. The mucin-associated genes expressed in the ocular surface cells include MUC1, MUC4, MUC5AC, and MUC16. Impression cytology is useful for collecting specimens from the ocular surface, their histological examination, and measuring mucin-associated gene expression levels. The expression of mucin-associated gene levels was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The expression levels of these mucin-associated genes are potential biomarkers for ocular surface diseases, including dry eye disease.