title: Merkel cells in the oral mucosa.
abstract: Ninety-eight consecutive surgical biopsies of oral mucosa from 96 patients were evaluated immunohistochemically with an anti-cytokeratin 20 (CK 20) anti-body to evidence Merkel cells (MC). Fifteen cases, showing the highest number of MC, were additionally studied with chromogranin A, S-100 protein, neuro filaments, epithelial membrane antigen, and double immunostaining for CK 20 and Ki67 antibodies to evaluate MC proliferation. Electron microscopy was performed in 2 cases. MC were observed in 58 cases. The highest number of MC was found in the gingival, buccal, and palate mucosa, especially in chronically damaged oral mucosa (lichen and chronic aspecific inflammation) as well as in the mucosa overlying tumors rather than in normal or acute inflammation. MC were not observed in dysplastic or neoplastic epithelium. MC showed evidence of proliferation, as demonstrated by Ki67 positivity, in 3 cases. In conclusion, MC appear to play a role in the reparative processes of oral mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomic Pathology, Bellaria Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Righi
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Betts
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marucci
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montebugnoli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prati
authors.forename: Leonardo H U
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Eusebi
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muzzi
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ragazzini
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Foschini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D002452:Cell Count; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053554:Keratin-20; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D018862:Merkel Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C507499:KRT20 protein, human; D053554:Keratin-20; D007633:Keratins