Mucin 1, a signal transduction membranebound mucin, is present in human disc tissue and is downregulated in vitro by exposure to IL-1ß or TNF-α

Back pain and disc degeneration have a growing socioeconomic healthcare impact. Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein whose extracellular and intracellular domains participate in cellular signaling. Little is currently known about the presence or role of MUC1 in human disc degeneration.