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- Title
Expression of connexins in human minor salivary glands.
- Authors
Moscato, Stefania; Falleni, Alessandra; Polizzi, Enza; Fulvio, Giovanni; Cabiati, Manuela; Ry, Silvia Del; Baldini, Chiara; Mattii, Letizia
- Abstract
Introduction: Connexins (Cxs) are transmembrane proteins involved in the formation of connexons/hemichannels. Two connexons of adjacent cells can dock one each other form- ing an intercellular channel at gap junction (GJ), by which ions and small metabolites can pass between cells. Single hemichannels participate in the exchange of small metabolites between cells and the extracellular space [1]. There are at least 21 isoforms of Cxs expressed in humans and they are localized in almost every tissue. More than one Cx can be expressed in each tissue and connexons can be made by a single Cx or by different types of Cxs. GJ are involved in various physiological functions including secretion in glandular tissue [2-5]. Cx26, Cx32 and Cx43 are the mainly expressed Cxs in glands, but no data are available about their expression in human salivary glands. Aim: The aim of our study is to investigate the presence and the localization of these Cxs in human minor salivary glands. Methods: human minor salivary gland biopsies (hMSGBs) were obtained as part of the routine diagnostic procedures when primary Sjögren’s Syndrome (pSS) was suspected. Samples without pSS were selected for the study. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy were employed to evaluated Cx26, Cx32 and Cx43 protein expression while RT-PCR was used to detect their mRNA expression. Results and Conclusions: Cx expression was found at both protein and mRNA level in all hMSGBs analysed. Cxs were observed at level of the duct and acinar cell membranes, as well as in myoepithelial cells. The localization of the three Cx types was very similar, suggesting a colocalization of these Cxs in the same connexons. Further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis. However, these preliminary results are important because demonstrate for the first time the presence of Cxs in human salivary glands. Moreover, in the few analysed pSS samples we observed an alteration of Cx expression indicating that these proteins may be involved in salivary gland dysfunctions.
- Subjects
SALIVARY glands; CONNEXINS; SJOGREN'S syndrome; IMMUNOELECTRON microscopy; MEMBRANE proteins; ION channels
- Publication
Italian Journal of Anatomy & Embryology / Archivio Italiano di Anatomia Ed Embriologia, 2022, Vol 126, p257
- ISSN
1122-6714
- Publication type
Article