Human salivary gland morphogenesis: myoepithelial cell maturation assessed by immunohistochemical markers.
OBJECTIVE
Myoepithelial cells are important components of salivary gland structure, aiding the expulsion of saliva from acinar lobules. The aim was to evaluate the expression of smooth muscle actin (SMA), calponin, caldesmon, CD10, CD29, S100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and p63 in myoepithelial cells during salivary gland morphogenesis to understand the maturation process of these cells and their possible use in the diagnosis of salivary gland lesions.


RESULTS
Major and minor human salivary glands at various stages of development, derived from fetuses at 8-26 weeks of gestation, were studied immunohistochemically. Fully developed salivary glands were used as controls. The protein p63 was present in all stages of salivary gland morphogenesis from initial bud to terminal bud stage. CD29, S100 and calponin were detected increasingly as salivary gland structure matured and in fully developed salivary gland. Proteins GFAP, CD10 and caldesmon were not observed in myoepithelial cells of salivary glands.


CONCLUSIONS
The proteins SMA, calponin, CD29, S100 and p63, which are present from the earliest stages of salivary gland maturation, are valuable myoepithelial markers but, although very specific, are not exclusive markers for this cell type.
Ianez
Renata Fraga
RF
Department of Surgical Pathology, Hospital A.C. Camargo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Buim
Marcilei E
ME
Coutinho-Camillo
Claudia M
CM
Schultz
Regina
R
Soares
Fernando A
FA
Lourenço
Silvia Vanessa
SV
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D015415:Biomarkers; C081876:CKAP4 protein, human; D019012:Integrin beta1; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins