title: Immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratins in human salivary gland acinic cell carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the expression of cytokeratins (CKs) in the solid, microcystic, follicular, and papillary-cystic subtypes of salivary gland acinic cell carcinoma (AcCC) in order to characterize the cell origin.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of CK7, CK14, CK19, CK20, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in 18 cases of AcCC was assessed with the use of immunohistochemical staining. Ten normal salivary glands were used as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of CKs in AcCCs varied according to their growth patterns. CK7 showed strong and diffuse positive staining in the microcystic, follicular, and papillary-cystic subtypes, whereas staining was weakly positive or negative in the solid subtype. CK14 expression was negative in almost all AcCCs. Expression of CK19 was observed in the microcystic, follicular, and papillary-cystic subtypes, but was minimally observed in the solid subtype. No cells positive for CK20 or α-SMA were found in any AcCCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated that the microcystic, follicular and papillary-cystic subtypes of AcCC exhibit features of ductal luminal cells with expression of CK7 and CK19, suggesting their ductal origination. By contrast, the solid subtype might originate from different cells with no ductal CK expression.
authors.affiliation: College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
authors.forename: Yuancai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China. Electronic address: Tingjiao@dlmedu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Tingjiao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D018267:Carcinoma, Acinar Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007633:Keratins