title: Characterization of laminin isoforms in human amnion.
abstract: Epithelial cells of the human amnion have been reported to possess similar functions to many types of cells, such as hepatocytes, neurons, and pancreatic beta-cells. We reported previously that one of the hepatocyte-like functions of human amniotic epithelial cells was reinforced by the presence of basement membrane components. Laminin is one of the main components of the basement membrane; it critically contributes to cell differentiation. Laminin has several heterotrimer isoforms composed of an alpha-, a beta-, and a gamma-chain, and each type of chain has several types of subunit chains: alpha1-5, beta1-3, and gamma1-3. In this study, we characterized the laminin subunit chains in human amnion. Laminin is produced and secreted from adjacent epithelial cells, and therefore, the gene expression of laminin subunit chains in human amniotic epithelial cells was investigated by RT-PCR. Their localization was examined by immunohistochemical staining of frozen sections. The findings suggested that the basement membrane of the human amnion contains a broad spectrum of laminin isoforms, laminin-2, -4, -5, -6, -7, -10, -11. These findings will provide clues not only for understanding the physiological roles of the amnion and hAECs, but also for applying this tissue as a source of donor cells for cell transplantation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Regeneration, Institutes of Organ Transplants, Reconstructive Medicine and Tissue Engineering, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takashima
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasuo
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sanzen
authors.forename: Kiyotoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sekiguchi
authors.forename: Motonori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Ayaka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nikaido
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007797:Laminin; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger