The homeobox HOXB13 is expressed in human minor salivary gland.
BACKGROUND
Homeobox are a family of developmental genes involved in morphogenesis and cellular differentiation. Participation of homeobox within normal and malignant tissue has been recently discussed in the literature.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the presence of HOXB13 transcript expression in human minor salivary gland.


METHODS
Ten-micrometer sections from frozen samples were evaluated employing non-radioactive in situ hybridization technique and HOXB13 mRNA probes.


RESULTS
HOXB13 was found to be expressed in ducts and mucous acini but not in serous acini.


CONCLUSIONS
RESULTS suggest that HOXB13 transcripts are differently expressed in normal mucous and serous acini, and it may possibly reflect a different role in salivary gland carcinogenesis.
Cazal
C
C
Department of Oral Pathology, University of São Paulo. São Paulo, Brazil.
Sobral
A P V
AP
de Almeida
F C S
FC
das Graças Silva-Valenzuela
M
M
Durazzo
M D
MD
Nunes
F D
FD
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000502:physiology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000378:metabolism*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
C484414:HOXB13 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger