Lubricin/proteoglycan 4 detected in vocal folds of humans and five other mammals

Objectives/Hypothesis Lubricin/proteoglycan‐4 (PRG4) lubricates connective tissues such as joints and tendon sheaths, enabling them to better withstand shearing and frictional forces during motion. We wondered whether PRG4 might play a role in phonation, as normal vocal folds withstand repetitive, high‐velocity deformations remarkably well. As a first step, we tested whether PRG4 is expressed in vocal folds. Study Design Laboratory study....