D Fanni, N Iacovidou, A Locci, C Gerosa, S Nemolato, P Van Eyken, G Monga, S Mellou, G Faa, V Fanos
European journal of histochemistry : EJH 2012 Oct 26MUC1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein, apically expressed in most epithelial cells, used in the differential diagnosis of carcinomas and for discrimination of tumors of non-epithelial origin showing epithelioid features. Little attention has been paid so far though, on its possible significance in embryonic tissues. A preliminary study from our group revealed MUC1 expression in the cap mesenchymal cells during human nephrogenesis, suggesting a role for MUC1 in the process of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition. This study aimed at investigating the expression pattern of MUC1 in various developing structures of human fetal kidney. Expression of MUC1 was examined in kidneys of 5 human fetuses. MUC1 immunoreactivity was detected in ureteric bud tips, in collecting tubules, in cap mesenchymal cells undergoing the initial phases of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition, in renal vesicles, comma-bodies, and S-shaped bodies. Our previous preliminary report suggested a role for MUC1 in the initial phases of the process of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition. The present data suggest that MUC1 expression characterizes multiple structures during human nephrogenesis, from the ureteric bud, to the initial phases of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and that MUC1 should be added to the genes activated during the process of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition in the cap mesenchyme of human kidney.
D Fanni, N Iacovidou, A Locci, C Gerosa, S Nemolato, P Van Eyken, G Monga, S Mellou, G Faa, V Fanos. MUC1 marks collecting tubules, renal vesicles, comma- and S-shaped bodies in human developing kidney tubules, renal vesicles, comma- and s-shaped bodies in human kidney. European journal of histochemistry : EJH. 2012 Oct 26;56(4):e40
PMID: 23361236
View Full Text