title: Expression of beta-1 integrin in human developing salivary glands and its parallel relation with maturation markers: in situ hybridisation and immunofluorescence study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Salivary gland development entails co-ordinated processes involving complex molecular interactions in which integrins have a fundamental role. The integrins are a family of heterodimeric transmembrane receptors comprising alpha and beta subunits that mediate intercellular and extracellular signals involved in the organisation of cells in tissues and organs during development. The beta-1 integrin in particular have been implicated in proliferation and differentiation of cells involved in the development of epithelial tissues. To understand the role of beta-1 integrin in salivary gland development we have studied its expression in human foetal tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  In situ hybridisation was used to compare the expression and localisation of integrin beta-1 with differentiation markers in developing human salivary glands obtained from foetuses of 8-24 weeks gestation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Integrin beta-1 first appeared during bud stage in a few cells and its distribution increased as salivary gland morphogenesis progressed. This increased pattern of beta-1 integrin expression was coincident with the appearance of the differentiation markers CK14, CK low MW and smooth-muscle actin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The developmentally regulated expression of integrin beta-1 in association with the establishment of a mature phenotype indicated by salivary gland tissue differentiation markers is suggestive of its role in salivary gland morphogenesis.
authors.affiliation: General Pathology Department, Dental School, University of São Paulo, Brazil. sloducca@usp.br
authors.forename: Silvia Vanessa
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.forename: Dirce Mary C
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Sabrina Hitomi
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Uyekita
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Thales
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Brito
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000032:analysis*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019012:Integrin beta1