Introduction: Galectins constitute a phylogenetically conserved family of proteins with high binding affinity for glycoconjugates bearing β-galactoside residues. Surprisingly, knowledge of the expression pattern of galectins during human epidermal morphogenesis is very limited.
Methods: Fifty-eight biopsy skin specimens obtained from human embryos and 10 biopsy specimens obtained from healthy adult volunteers were processed for immunohistochemistry using a panel of antibodies against galectins 1, 3, 7, and 9.
Results: Fetal human epidermis was devoid of any galectin 1 immunoreactivity, whereas clear-cut changes were found in the galectin 3 immunoreactivity of fetal epidermis with advancing gestational age. The expression pattern of galectins 7 and 9 remained constant at all stages of gestation.
Conclusions: The changes in galectin 3 immunoreactivity of human fetal epidermis with advancing gestational age, which are reported here for the first time, suggest that this galectin and its ligands may be implicated in the molecular events underlying human epidermal morphogenesis. It remains to be elucidated in future investigations whether the expression pattern of galectins, particularly that of galectin 3, in the developing human epidermis reveals alterations in fetuses with inherited cutaneous disorders that may be important for prenatal diagnosis of these disorders.
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Am J Case Rep
December 2024
Division of Respirology, Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, Japan.
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December 2024
Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Dicle, 21280 Diyarbakır, Turkey.
Intermediate filaments (IFs) play a major role in determining and maintaining cell shape and anchoring intracellular organelles in place, in the tissues and organs of several species, starting from the early stages of development. This study was aimed at the immunohistochemical investigation of the presence, cellular localization and temporal distribution of the intermediate filaments keratin 8 (CK8), keratin 18 (CK18), keratin 19 (CK19), vimentin, desmin and laminin, all of which contribute to the formation of the cytoskeleton in the rat mammary gland during pregnancy, lactation and involution. On days 7, 14 and 21 of pregnancy (pregnancy period), on day 7 post-delivery (lactation period) and on day 7 post-weaning (involution period), under ketamine hydrochloride (Ketalar-Pfizer) (90 mg/kg) anesthesia, two mammary glands were fully excised from the abdominal region.
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Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
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