title: Distribution of immunoreactive transforming growth factor-alpha in non-neoplastic human salivary glands.
abstract: The distribution of immunoreactive transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) was studied in non-neoplastic human major and minor salivary glands using an immunoperoxidase assay in conjunction with an antiserum to human TGF-alpha. The ductal cell components of all major and minor salivary glands were found to contain significant amounts of TGF-alpha immunoreactivity. In contrast, acinar and myoepithelial cells consistently lacked immune reaction product in both types of glands. Occasionally, an asynchronous pattern of TGF-alpha ductal cell immunoreactivity was observed in specific ducts within a section. Also, intraductal secretions, when present, were found to contain TGF-alpha immunoreactive material. Ductal cells and connective tissue from salivary glands samples showing significant lymphocytic infiltration and loss of acinar cells exhibited higher levels of TGF-alpha immunoreactivity than normal salivary gland samples. These observations demonstrate, for the first time, the presence of TGF-alpha immunoreactivity in specific structural components of non-neoplastic human major and minor salivary glands. It will be important in future studies to determine whether alterations in TGF-alpha expression are detectable in diverse types of salivary gland tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center 77225, USA.
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Ogbureke
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: MacDaniel
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Durban
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D003239:Connective Tissue Cells; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha