Neural cell adhesion molecule expression in the human carotid body.
We studied by immunocytochemistry the expression of NCAM in human carotid bodies, sampled at autopsy from 16 adult subjects (mean age +/- SD: 44.3 +/- 3.4 years). No NCAM immunoreactivity was visible in type II cells. An high percentage (78.3 +/- 7.2%) of type I cells showed positive anti-NCAM immunoreaction. Statistically significant differences were not found in anti-NCAM immunostaining of light and dark cells (80.2 +/- 6.2% vs 74.7 +/- 13.4%, P>0.05). The high expression level of NCAM in the carotid body indicates a role in regulating adhesion between type I cells. The ascertained role of NCAM in neural mechanisms of differentiation, survival and cell plasticity suggests a possible involvement in the development/differentiation process of the carotid body and in determining cellular/molecular changes due to chronic hypoxia.
Porzionato
Andrea
A
Section of Anatomy, Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University of Padova, Italy.
Vigato
Enrico
E
Macchi
Veronica
V
Parenti
Anna
A
De Caro
Raffaele
R
D000328:Adult; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology
D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules