The homeobox HOXB13 is expressed in human minor salivary gland

• Published in: Oral diseases Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 424 - 427
• Main Authors: Cazal, C, Sobral, APV, De Almeida, FCS, Das Graças Silva-Valenzuela, M, Durazzo, MD, Nunes, FD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2006
• Subjects: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - surgery; Female; Gene Expression; Genes, Homeobox - physiology; homeobox; Homeodomain Proteins - biosynthesis; HOXB13; Humans; In Situ Hybridization; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Mucosa - metabolism; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - analysis; salivary gland; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - surgery; Salivary Glands, Minor - metabolism; Sequence Analysis, RNA
• ISSN: 1354-523X; 1601-0825
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-0825.2005.01218.x

Background:  Homeobox are a family of developmental genes involved in morphogenesis and cellular differentiation. Participation of homeobox within normal and malignant tissue has been recently discussed in the literature. Objective:  To analyze the presence of HOXB13 transcript expression in human minor salivary gland. Material and methods:  Ten‐micrometer sections from frozen samples were evaluated employing non‐radioactive in situ hybridization technique and HOXB13 mRNA probes. Results:  HOXB13 was found to be expressed in ducts and mucous acini but not in serous acini. Conclusions:  Results suggest that HOXB13 transcripts are differently expressed in normal mucous and serous acini, and it may possibly reflect a different role in salivary gland carcinogenesis.