title: Vimentin, cytokeratin 8 and cytokeratin 18 are not specific markers for M-cells in human palatine tonsils.
abstract: Standard immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the presence of vimentin, cytokeratin 8, cytokeratin 18, macrophages and Langerhans cells in the human tonsillar epithelium in formalin-fixed and frozen tissue specimens. Vimentin detection was restricted to infiltrating cells of the lymphoid series, dendritic and vascular endothelial cells. All epithelial cells were negative. Cytokeratin 8 and 18 were readily detected in a large proportion of epithelial cells lining the crypt, but these cells bore no resemblance to the intestinal M-cells. Langerhans cells and macrophages were seen in both the oropharyngeal and crypt epithelium and were more common in the latter. This study confirms the presence of antigen-presenting cells, macrophages and Langerhans cells in the tonsillar epithelium and shows that intermediate filament proteins, vimentin, cytokeratin 8 and 18 are unreliable markers for human tonsillar M-cells, if indeed such cells exist in human tonsils.
authors.affiliation: Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. rachelkoshi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koshi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000166:cytology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis*; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000737:chemistry; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins