Magainin-like immunoreactivity in human submandibular and labial salivary glands.
Magainins, antimicrobial peptides secreted by granular glands of frog skin, may be related to the high resistance to infections of this epithelial surface. The oral mucosa of healthy individuals is another tissue in which infection is not frequent, probably owing to the activity of potent salivary and mucosal defense mechanisms. To investigate if magainin-like factors are a component of these oral defense mechanisms, human and animal minor (mucosal) and major salivary glands were examined by immunohistochemistry, using a polyclonal rabbit anti-magainin antibody. Cryostat sections of (para) formaldehyde-fixed tissues were incubated with the antibody and then stained with fluorescein-complexed anti-rabbit IgG. Specific staining was observed in the apical portion of the cytoplasm of ductal epithelial cells of human submandibular and labial salivary glands. Diffuse staining was present in submandibular acinar cells. Bovine, rat, hamster, and mouse tissues were unreactive. The presence of magainin-like substances in human salivary gland duct cells is consistent with reports of the occurrence of other biologically active substances in salivary gland ducts.
Clinical Investigations and Patient Care Branch, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
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Wolff
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Moreira
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Bevins
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Hand
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Fox
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D054806:Magainins; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
D000962:Antimalarials; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054806:Magainins; D010455:Peptides; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C053301:magainin 2 peptide, Xenopus; C053300:magainin 1 peptide, Xenopus