title: Extra hepatic expression of the acute phase protein alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in normal bovine tissues.
abstract: Combined quantitative (real-time) polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the expression of the minor acute phase protein alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP, orosomucoid) in bovine extrahepatic tissues. AGP was produced mainly in the salivary glands and spleen, whereas minor expression was detected in all other tissues sampled, including lung, lymph nodes, uterus, ovary, kidney and tongue. The findings were consistent with immunohistochemical results. In view of the immunomodulatory and direct antibacterial activity of AGP, its expression in the salivary glands may signal an involvement in the regulation of the local immunity, even in non-pathological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy. cristina.lecchi@unimi.it
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lecchi
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avallone
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giurovich
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roccabianca
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ceciliani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009961:Orosomucoid