![]() Five GFMs have been identified in humans and named MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B, MUC6, and MUC19. The secreted long polymers of GFMs form a highly hydrophilic network, which adopts a gel formation when in contact with water. GFMs are large and heavily O-glycosylated proteins that are secreted by specialized cells at the epithelial surface. Mucus is a hydrogel made mainly of water and gel-forming mucins (GFMs), which represent its main organic component and are responsible for its viscoelastic properties ( Demouveaux et al., 2018 Lacroix et al., 2020). A spontaneously expelled CMP in a healthy woman is made of solid-like materials. It is believed that the CMP acts as a physical barrier that prevents pathogens of the vaginal flora from ascending into the uterine cavity, thereby helping to ensure the sterility of the uterus during pregnancy ( Bastholm et al., 2014). It represents a major obstetric and global health problem that affects more than one in 10 births worldwide ( Liu et al., 2015).ĭuring human pregnancy, a large amount of mucus is produced in the cervical canal to form the cervical mucus plug (CMP). Intrauterine infection during pregnancy is recognized as a leading cause (40%) of preterm delivery ( Stinson and Payne, 2019). Preterm birth is associated with significant neonatal morbidity and mortality, and with a higher risk of adverse consequences in childhood and adulthood ( Platt, 2014 Ream and Lehwald, 2018 Sperling and Nelson, 2016).
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