Distribution of keratins and involucrin in human fetal oral epithelia.
The presence of keratins and involucrin was studied in 9 human fetuses of an age-range between 9 and 24 weeks of gestation. The use of the monoclonal antibodies AE1 and AE3 as well as an anti-involucrin serum enabled developmental changes in the oral epithelia to be assessed. Our study detected some evidence of fetal differentiation patterns different from the adult, i.e. presence of AE3-Positive basal cells and AE1-Positive suprabasal cells in early stages of fetal development. In addition, involucrin was detected as early as 9 weeks of gestation in the superficial cells of the oral cavity epithelium. After the 15th week of gestation the differentiation markers studied gradually adopted adult-type distribution patterns.
Klein-Szanto
A J
AJ
Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000196:embryology*; D005333:Fetus; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis*; D009055:Mouth / Q000196:embryology*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011498:Protein Precursors; C032253:involucrin; D007633:Keratins