Expression of the E-selectin gene in human gingival epithelial tissue.
E-selectin is an adhesion molecule, expressed by cytokine-activated endothelial cells, that participates in the binding of neutrophils. Recent studies in our laboratory documented binding of the E-selectin-specific monoclonal antibody H4/18 to keratinocytes in inflamed human oral mucosa, particularly gingival epithelium. To determine whether this immunoreactivity was due to expression of authentic E-selectin, the presence of E-selectin mRNA in gingival epithelium was analysed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Reverse transcription of epithelial RNA and amplification of cDNA with E-selectin-specific primers resulted in the formation of a 178 nucleotide PCR product identical to that obtained from cytokine-activated endothelial cells. Sequencing of the PCR product revealed 100% homology between epithelial and endothelial E-selectin fragments. Epithelial preparations did not contain mRNA for von Willebrand factor, excluding the possibility of contamination by endothelial cells. These results confirm immunohistochemical studies of E-selectin immunoreactivity in human oral mucosa and demonstrate that E-selectin expression is not confined to endothelium.
Pietrzak
E R
ER
Department of Dentistry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Savage
N W
NW
Aldred
M J
MJ
Walsh
L J
LJ
D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005881:Gingiva / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
D019040:E-Selectin; D012333:RNA, Messenger