title: Human kallikrein 6 expression in salivary gland tumors.
abstract: Human kallikrein 6 (hK6), also known as zyme/protease M/neurosin), is expressed in many normal glandular tissues. The aim of this study was to determine whether hK6 is expressed in salivary gland tissues and salivary gland tumors (both benign and malignant), using an immunohistochemical method. Pleomorphic adenomas (PA), adenoid cystic carcinomas, polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinomas, acinic cell carcinomas, mucoepidermoid carcinomas, and adenocarcinomas not otherwise specified of both minor and major salivary glands were examined. Cells lining duct-like structures and non-duct-like cells were scored. Only in PA of minor salivary gland origin was overall staining higher in duct-like than in non-duct-like cells. In all other tumors exhibiting both types of cells, hK6 staining was similar in both duct-like and non-duct-like cells. Tumors that exhibited non-duct-like cells only also exhibited cytoplasmic staining. Results of this study show that salivary gland tumors express hK6, apparently downregulated in comparison with normal salivary gland tissue, and that this expression is not specific for any of the tumors studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1. mark.darling@fmd.uwo.ca
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Darling
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jackson-Boeters
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Diamandis
mesh_terms: D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: C103551:KLK6 protein, human; D007610:Kallikreins