Immunocytochemical labelling of Merkel cells of human oral mucosa by means of antibodies to protein gene product 9.5

Authors

  • A Casasco
  • C Marchetti
  • A Calligaro
  • M Casasco
  • P Poggi
  • M Beolchini

Keywords:

merkel cells, oral mucosa, human, protein gene product 9.5

Abstract

Merkel cell (MC) are one of the non-keratinocyte cell populations that reside in oral epithelium. Protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) is a protein specifically present in the cytoplasm of neurons and neuroendocrine cells. It is demonstrated by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase that MC of oral human mucosa express PGP 9.5-like immunoreactivity. This finding is in agreement with the hypothesis that oral MC are paraneurons or neuroendocrine cells. The use of anti-PGP 9.5 serum may be of value for future studies of MC in normal and pathological oral tissues.

Published

2020-04-17

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles