Antigen expression of human eccrine sweat glands.
BACKGROUND
The proliferating abilities of sweat glands are very limited, so researches on the repair and regeneration of sweat glands are important. First of all, we must find out reliable and specific antigen markers of sweat glands.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the antigen expression of human eccrine sweat glands.


METHODS
The development of eccrine sweat glands was investigated by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the antigen expression was detected by immunohistochemical techniques.


RESULTS
Human eccrine sweat glands expressed cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK8, CK14, CK18, CK19 and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was only expressed in sweat glands in the adult skin. Developing and developed sweat glands all had some cells expressing Ki67 and p63 antigens. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was mainly localized in the secretory cells and ductal cells. Some myoepithelial cells were also labeled with anti-EGF antibody. In the older fetus, positive staining for EGF was seen in the lumen of the secretory portion. EGF receptor (EGFR) was expressed in the ducts.


CONCLUSIONS
Human eccrine sweat glands express CK7, CK8, CK14, CK18, CK19, CEA, EMA, Ki67, p63, EGF and EGFR. In skin, CEA can be used as a specific immunological marker of sweat glands.
Li
Hai-Hong
HH
Mental Health Center, ShanTou University Medical College, ShanTou, GuangDong Province, China.
Zhou
Gang
G
Fu
Xiao-Bing
XB
Zhang
Lei
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004439:Eccrine Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
C081876:CKAP4 protein, human; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018396:Mucin-1; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D007633:Keratins; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors