Connexin Expression in Human Minor Salivary Glands: An Immunohistochemical Microscopy Study
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 a...
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| author | Alessandra Falleni Stefania Moscato Giovanni Fulvio Enza Polizzi Margherita Bernardeschi Francesco Bianchi Valentina Donati Manuela Cabiati Chiara Ippolito Silvia Del Ry Chiara Baldini Letizia Mattii |
| author_facet | Alessandra Falleni Stefania Moscato Giovanni Fulvio Enza Polizzi Margherita Bernardeschi Francesco Bianchi Valentina Donati Manuela Cabiati Chiara Ippolito Silvia Del Ry Chiara Baldini Letizia Mattii |
| author_sort | Alessandra Falleni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 Sjögren’s Syndrome analysed only by immunofluorescence showed an alteration of the Cx expression, indicating that these proteins could be involved in salivary gland dysfunctions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:01:23Z |
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| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:01:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-be5223fe1afc4d15b93b608803686cce2023-11-23T18:01:16ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492022-09-012718592610.3390/molecules27185926Connexin Expression in Human Minor Salivary Glands: An Immunohistochemical Microscopy StudyAlessandra Falleni0Stefania Moscato1Giovanni Fulvio2Enza Polizzi3Margherita Bernardeschi4Francesco Bianchi5Valentina Donati6Manuela Cabiati7Chiara Ippolito8Silvia Del Ry9Chiara Baldini10Letizia Mattii11Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyPathological Anatomy Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, ItalyInstitute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyInstitute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, ItalyConnexins (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 Sjögren’s Syndrome analysed only by immunofluorescence showed an alteration of the Cx expression, indicating that these proteins could be involved in salivary gland dysfunctions.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/18/5926connexin 26connexin 32connexin 43immunofluorescenceimmunoelectron microscopyhuman salivary glands |
| spellingShingle | Alessandra Falleni Stefania Moscato Giovanni Fulvio Enza Polizzi Margherita Bernardeschi Francesco Bianchi Valentina Donati Manuela Cabiati Chiara Ippolito Silvia Del Ry Chiara Baldini Letizia Mattii Connexin Expression in Human Minor Salivary Glands: An Immunohistochemical Microscopy Study Molecules connexin 26 connexin 32 connexin 43 immunofluorescence immunoelectron microscopy human salivary glands |
| title | Connexin Expression in Human Minor Salivary Glands: An Immunohistochemical Microscopy Study |
| title_full | Connexin Expression in Human Minor Salivary Glands: An Immunohistochemical Microscopy Study |
| title_fullStr | Connexin Expression in Human Minor Salivary Glands: An Immunohistochemical Microscopy Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Connexin Expression in Human Minor Salivary Glands: An Immunohistochemical Microscopy Study |
| title_short | Connexin Expression in Human Minor Salivary Glands: An Immunohistochemical Microscopy Study |
| title_sort | connexin expression in human minor salivary glands an immunohistochemical microscopy study |
| topic | connexin 26 connexin 32 connexin 43 immunofluorescence immunoelectron microscopy human salivary glands |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/18/5926 |
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