IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF CYTOKERATIN EXPRESSION IN SUBCOLUMNAR RESERVE CELLS OF HUMAN UTERINE CERVIX

抄録

We have studied the cytokeratin expression in subcolumnar reserve cells of the human uterine cervix using the immunohistochemical method. Five commercially available cytokeratin antibodies (AE-3, M630, M717, LL002, and CAM5.2) were used to stain a normal uterine cervix. Endocervical columnar cells stained strongly with CAM5.2, which reacts with low molecular-weight keratins (simple epitheliumtype). The stratified squamous epithelium stained strongly in all layers with M630, which reacts with high molecular-weight keratins (squamous-type). Subcolumnar reserve cells stained not only simple epithelium-type cytokeratin (CAM5.2) but also squamous-type cytokeratins (M630, LL002). This data presented so far indicates that subcolumnar reserve cells exhibit squamous characteristics. In addition, they also exhibit the cytokeratins typically found in non-stratified (simple) epithelia including endocervical columnar cells. This supports the notion that subcolumnar reserve cells have the potential to give rise not only to squamous epithelial cells but also to columnar cells.