title: L1CAM in the Early Enteric and Urogenital System.
abstract: L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) is a transmembrane molecule belonging to the L1 protein family. It has shown to be a key player in axonal guidance in the course of neuronal development. Furthermore, L1CAM is also crucial for the establishment of the enteric and urogenital organs and is aberrantly expressed in cancer originating in these organs. Carcinogenesis and embryogenesis follow a lot of similar molecular pathways, but unfortunately, comprehensive data on L1CAM expression and localization in human developing organs are lacking so far. In the present study we, therefore, examined the spatiotemporal distribution of L1CAM in the early human fetal period (weeks 8-12 of gestation) by means of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization (ISH). In the epithelia of the gastrointestinal organs, L1CAM localization cannot be observed in the examined stages most likely due to their advanced polarization and differentiation. Despite these results, our ISH data indicate weak L1CAM expression, but only in few epithelial cells. The genital tracts, however, are distinctly L1CAM positive throughout the entire fetal period. We, therefore, conclude that in embryogenesis L1CAM is crucial for further differentiation of epithelia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology (EJP, MJB, MB, MZ, HF), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Elisabeth Judith
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Pechriggl
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (NC, KK, A-GZ), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Concin
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology (EJP, MJB, MB, MZ, HF), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Blumer
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology (EJP, MJB, MB, MZ, HF), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bitsche
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology (EJP, MJB, MB, MZ, HF), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zwierzina
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology (JD), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Jozsef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dudas
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (NC, KK, A-GZ), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koziel
authors.affiliation: Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (PA).|Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (PA).
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Altevogt
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (NC, KK, A-GZ), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Alain-Gustave
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Zeimet
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology (EJP, MJB, MB, MZ, HF), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fritsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1
keywords: L1CAM; cancer; epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; gastrointestinal; human development; urogenital