Lourenço SV, Lima DMC, Uyekita SH, Schultz R, de Brito T. Expression of beta-1 integrin in human developing salivary glands and its parallel relation with maturation markers: In situ hybridisation and immunofluorescence study.
Arch Oral Biol 2007;
52:1064-71. [PMID:
17597577 DOI:
10.1016/j.archoralbio.2007.05.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2006] [Revised: 05/13/2007] [Accepted: 05/14/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Salivary gland development entails co-ordinated processes involving complex molecular interactions in which integrins have a fundamental role. The integrins are a family of heterodimeric transmembrane receptors comprising alpha and beta subunits that mediate intercellular and extracellular signals involved in the organisation of cells in tissues and organs during development. The beta-1 integrin in particular have been implicated in proliferation and differentiation of cells involved in the development of epithelial tissues. To understand the role of beta-1 integrin in salivary gland development we have studied its expression in human foetal tissues.
DESIGN
In situ hybridisation was used to compare the expression and localisation of integrin beta-1 with differentiation markers in developing human salivary glands obtained from foetuses of 8-24 weeks gestation.
RESULTS
Integrin beta-1 first appeared during bud stage in a few cells and its distribution increased as salivary gland morphogenesis progressed. This increased pattern of beta-1 integrin expression was coincident with the appearance of the differentiation markers CK14, CK low MW and smooth-muscle actin.
CONCLUSIONS
The developmentally regulated expression of integrin beta-1 in association with the establishment of a mature phenotype indicated by salivary gland tissue differentiation markers is suggestive of its role in salivary gland morphogenesis.
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