title: Microplicae--Specialized Surface Structure of Epithelial Cells of Wet-Surfaced Oral Mucosa.
abstract: The surface structure of the superficial cells of the oral mucosa is decorated with numerous membrane ridges, termed microplicae (MPLs). The MPL structure is typical of the epithelial surfaces that are covered with protective mucus. Cell membrane MPLs are no longer seen as passive consequences of cellular activity. The interaction between MPLs and the mucins has been demonstrated, however the role of MPL structure seen on the upper surface of the oral epithelial cells is speculative. The cell surface is of potentially great significance, as it harbors many markers for refined prognosis and targets for oral mucosal diseases and cancer therapy. With these aspects in mind, we conducted the present review of the MPL structure and function in order to form the basis for further studies of MPLs of the oral epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: a Implant Center , Espoo , Finland .
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asikainen
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio Campus , Kuopio , Finland .
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sirviö
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio Campus , Kuopio , Finland .|c SIB Labs, Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland .
authors.forename: J J W
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mikkonen
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio Campus , Kuopio , Finland .|c SIB Labs, Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland .
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: d Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery , VU University Medical Center/Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA) , Amsterdam , The Netherlands .
authors.forename: E A J M
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Schulten
authors.affiliation: d Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery , VU University Medical Center/Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA) , Amsterdam , The Netherlands .
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: ten Bruggenkate
authors.affiliation: c SIB Labs, Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland .
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Koistinen
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio Campus , Kuopio , Finland .|e Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu , Oulu , Finland , and.|f Educational Dental Clinic, Kuopio University Hospital , Kuopio , Finland.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kullaa
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009055:Mouth / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure*
keywords: Microplicae; SEM; oral mucosa