Immunocytochemical labelling of Merkel cells of human oral mucosa by means of antibodies to protein gene product 9.5.
Merkel cell (MC) are one of the non-keratinocyte cell populations that reside in oral epithelium. Protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) is a protein specifically present in the cytoplasm of neurons and neuroendocrine cells. It is demonstrated by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase that MC of oral human mucosa express PGP 9.5-like immunoreactivity. This finding is in agreement with the hypothesis that oral MC are paraneurons or neuroendocrine cells. The use of anti-PGP 9.5 serum may be of value for future studies of MC in normal and pathological oral tissues.
Casasco
A
A
Instituto di Istologia ed Embriologia, University of Pavia.
Marchetti
C
C
Calligaro
A
A
Casasco
M
M
Poggi
P
P
Beolchini
M
M
D000906:Antibodies; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000276:immunology*; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
D000906:Antibodies; D009479:Neuropeptides; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase