title: Expression of the mouse homologue for the human GCDFP-15/PIP gene during pre- and early post-natal development.
abstract: The function of the mouse submaxillary gland/prolactin inducible protein (mSMGP/mPIP), the homologue of the human gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 (GCDFP-15)/prolactin inducible protein (hPIP) remains unknown. The human gene, normally expressed in apocrine glands of healthy individuals, is aberrantly expressed in human breast cancers where it is regulated by hormones including androgens, and in prostate cancers. We have previously reported that in the adult mouse and rat, gene expression is tissue-specific for the salivary and lacrimal glands, and is hormonally regulated. In this study, we examine the endogenous pattern of mouse SMGP/PIP (mSMGP/mPIP) gene expression in mid- and late-embryonic, and in early postnatal development. Gene expression was analyzed by RT-PCR followed by Southern blot analysis, and by in situ hybridization. Gene expression was detected in the submandibular gland as early as embryonic day 14 (E14), a period that coincides with the initiation of submandibular gland development in the embryo, suggesting that mSMGP/mPIP may have a functional role in the developing gland. Nearing the end of gestation, E18, mSMGP/mPIP transcripts were localized in the proacinar cells of the gland, and gene expression continued to be maintained following birth. In addition, during early postnatal development, mSMGP/mPIP gene expression was detected in the other two major salivary glands, the sublingual and parotid, as well as in the lacrimal gland and in reproductive tissues. In the prostate, gene expression was turned off by 10 weeks of age. The spatial and temporal pattern of the mSMGP/mPIP gene expression, in addition to our recent demonstration that mSMGP/mPIP is found in mouse saliva and can bind bacteria, suggest that this protein may have a protective role in the mouse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, 770 Bannatyne Avenue, Man., R3E 0W3 Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Beverley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Geetanjalee
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Modha
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Troup
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Myal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D053399:Apolipoproteins D; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011467:Prostate / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C024328:APOD protein, human; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D053399:Apolipoproteins D; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C488892:PIP protein, human; D011506:Proteins; C483459:SMGP-PIP protein, mouse