MUC2, the major component of the mucus in the colon, is expressed in the intestinal lining in close contact with the gut microflora, keeping the majority of gut bacteria away from epithelial cells and regulating the intestinal microbial habitat.53,54 In this study, we observed a decrease in MUC2 protein expression and goblet cell numbers and a thinner mucus layer in mice with DSS-induced colitis. Here, MUC2 is linked to colitis.