Immunohistochemical distribution of chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II in human tissues.
Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II (COUP-TFII) is an orphan member of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor superfamily. The present study examines the immunohistochemical distribution of COUP-TFII in human adult tissues. In the reproductive and endocrine systems, COUP-TFII immunoreactivity was detected in the stroma, vascular endothelium and smooth muscle, while it was less frequent in adrenal 4 binding protein (Ad4BP) positive steroidogenic cells. In lung, COUP-TFII immunoreactivity was detected in the vascular endothelium of alveolar septae. In kidney, the glomerular endothelium and Bowman's capsule were immunopositive for COUP-TFII. COUP-TFII immunoreactivity in the gastro-intestinal tract, liver and spleen were detected in mesenchymal cells, sinusoid endothelium and reticuloendothelium, respectively. Results from this study demonstrated the detection of COUP-TFII immunoreactivity in all human tissues examined, especially in mesenchymal cells. The widespread expression of COUP-TFII suggests that COUP-TFII may play an important role in the function and homeostasis of various human tissues and organs.
Suzuki
T
T
Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. t-suzuki@patholo2.med.tohoku.ac.jp
Moriya
T
T
Darnel
A D
AD
Takeyama
J
J
Sasano
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D051837:COUP Transcription Factor II; D051836:COUP Transcription Factors; D002645:Chickens; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D051837:COUP Transcription Factor II; D051836:COUP Transcription Factors; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C095569:NR2F2 protein, human