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Interspecies variations in oral epithelial cytokeratin expression
A W Barrett1, S Selvarajah, S Franey
1Department of Oral Pathology, Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Healthcare Sciences, London, UK. A.Barrett@eastman.ucl.ac.uk
Journal of Anatomy
|November 25, 1998
Summary
This study investigated cytokeratin (CK) expression in animal epithelial tissues using human antibodies. While some CK are conserved across species, variations in expression patterns and antibody cross-reactivity highlight the need for careful interpretation in comparative studies.
Area of Science:
- Immunohistochemistry
- Epithelial Biology
- Comparative Anatomy
Background:
- Cytokeratins (CK) are intermediate filament proteins crucial for epithelial cell structure and differentiation.
- Understanding CK expression in non-human species is vital for comparative studies and translational research.
- Human-specific CK antibodies are often used to study CKs in animal models, but cross-reactivity and species-specific differences can occur.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of cytokeratins (CK) in the epidermis and oral epithelium of various non-human species.
- To assess the utility of antihuman CK antibodies for detecting CKs in animal tissues.
- To identify conserved and divergent CK expression profiles between humans and other species.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry using a panel of antihuman CK antibodies on fixed, wax-embedded skin, buccal mucosa, and gingiva samples from multiple animal species (rhesus monkey, marmoset, cow, sheep, pig, ferret, hamster, axolotl, trout).
- Human skin and oral mucosa were used as positive controls.
- Immunoperoxidase staining technique was employed to visualize CK expression.
Main Results:
- Antihuman CK antibodies successfully stained various animal epithelial tissues, indicating conserved CK presence.
- Observed staining patterns differed from established human CK profiles in some instances.
- Notably, CK18, typically found in simple epithelia in humans, was expressed in stratified epithelia of cows, ferrets, and hamsters.
- Variable cross-reactivity of anti-CK antibodies was noted, attributed to intrinsic CK polypeptide variations and fixation artifacts.
Conclusions:
- Certain cytokeratins are evolutionarily conserved across different species.
- Significant variations in CK expression exist between species, influenced by local functional requirements.
- Technical factors, including antibody cross-reactivity and tissue fixation, can impact immunohistochemical results.
- Caution and biochemical characterization are necessary when using CK immunohistochemistry in animal studies to ensure accurate interpretation of epithelial differentiation.