Connexin Expression in Human Minor Salivary Glands: An Immunohistochemical Microscopy Study

被引：2

作者：

Falleni, Alessandra ^{[1
]}

Moscato, Stefania ^{[1
]}

Fulvio, Giovanni ^{[1
]}

Polizzi, Enza ^{[1
]}

Bernardeschi, Margherita ^{[1
]}

Bianchi, Francesco ^{[1
]}

Donati, Valentina ^{[2
]}

Cabiati, Manuela ^{[3
]}

Ippolito, Chiara ^{[1
]}

Del Ry, Silvia ^{[3
]}

Baldini, Chiara ^{[1
]}

Mattii, Letizia ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Univ Pisa, Dept Clin & Expt Med, I-56126 Pisa, Italy

[2] Azienda Osped Univ Pisana, Pathol Anat Unit, I-56126 Pisa, Italy

[3] Natl Res Council CNR, Inst Clin Physiol IFC, I-56124 Pisa, Italy

来源：

MOLECULES | 2022年 / 27卷 / 18期

关键词：

connexin; 26; 32; 43; immunofluorescence; immunoelectron microscopy; human salivary glands; RT-PCR; myoepithelial cell; GAP-JUNCTIONS; GENES; CELLS;

D O I：

10.3390/molecules27185926

中图分类号：

Q5 [生物化学]; Q7 [分子生物学];

学科分类号：

071010 ; 081704 ;

摘要：

Connexins (Cxs) are transmembrane proteins involved in the formation of hemichannels and gap junctions (GJs). GJs are involved in various physiological functions, including secretion in glandular tissue. It has been demonstrated that Cx26, Cx32, and Cx43 are mainly expressed in glands, but no data are available in human salivary glands to date. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence and the localization of Cxs in human minor labial salivary glands. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy were employed to evaluate the Cx26, Cx32, and Cx43 protein in human labial salivary gland biopsies (hLSGBs). RT-PCR was also used to detect their mRNA expression. Cx expression was found at both the mRNA and protein levels in all hLSGBs analysed. Cxs were observed at the level of the duct and acinar cells, as well as in myoepithelial cells. The localization of the three Cx types was very similar, suggesting colocalization of these Cxs in the same connexons. These results demonstrated the presence of Cxs in human salivary glands for the first time. Moreover, the few samples with primary Sjogren's Syndrome analysed only by immunofluorescence showed an alteration of the Cx expression, indicating that these proteins could be involved in salivary gland dysfunctions.

引用

页数：15

共 31 条

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