Immunocytochemical Localization of Histatins in Human Salivary Glands

Abstract

Connecticut (ARH)S U M M A R Y Histatins are a family of salivary proteins with bactericidal and fungicidal activities that contribute to the innate defense of the oral cavity. Histatins are present in the serous granules of the parotid and submandibular glands. The important role of histatins in saliva, and the limited information on their cellular and subcellular distribution, prompted us to further define the localization of histatins in the major salivary glands. Immunogold-silver staining of 1-m sections of plastic-embedded tissue with anti-histatin antibody revealed histatin immunoreactivity in the serous acinar cells of the parotid and submandibular glands, the serous demilune cells of the submandibular and sublingual glands, and in occasional intercalated duct cells. No reactivity was seen in mucous cells or in striated or excretory duct cells. Electron microscopic observations of thin sections labeled with anti-histatin and gold-labeled secondary antibodies revealed immunoreactivity associated with the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex and in secretory granules of serous acinar and demilune cells. The granules of parotid acinar cells exhibited relatively uniform labeling of their content, whereas the granules of serous cells in the submandibular and sublingual glands showed variable labeling of the dense and light regions of their content. A few intercalated duct cells adjacent to the acinar cells also exhibited labeled granules. These results suggest that the serous cells of the major glands are the main source of histatins in human saliva. They are also consistent with several previous studies demonstrating the variable distribution of different proteins within the granule content.

Expression Analysis of Human Salivary Glands by Laser Microdissection: Differences Between Submandibular and Labial Glands

“…In LGs it was detected mainly in used for laser microdissection resulted in pure serous and mucous cell populations, respectively. This is further confirmed by the clear serous expression pattern of AQP5, STATH, HTN1-3, which is in agreement with previous reports [27][28][29]. The protocol used here for laser microdissection and RT-PCR analysis was nicely applicable for the study of genes which are expressed relatively strongly.…”

Facts and artifacts in proteomics of body fluids. What proteomics of saliva is telling us?

“…5) [53]. Because submandibular and sublingual gland ducts (van Warthon and Bartholin ducts, respectively) are very closely located, sometimes anatomically fused in a unique duct [56,57], their specific contribution to the whole salivary proteome has not been well-defined until now, and except few sporadic information, specific contribution of minor glands has to be almost completely defined [58].…”

The P-113 Fragment of Histatin 5 Requires a Specific Peptide Sequence for Intracellular Translocation inCandida albicans, Which Is Independent of Cell Wall Binding

“…Histatins are a group of small, histidine-rich cationic antimicrobial peptides secreted into the saliva by human parotid and submandibular-sublingual glands (1). These proteins exhibit fungicidal activity against several Candida species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Cryptococcus neoformans (11,20).…”