Abstract
The expression pattern of cytokeratins in human normal tongue dorsal mucosa, gingiva, and buccal mucosa was examined immunohistochemically with 9 kinds of anti-keratin monoclonal antibodies (AE3, AE5, 903, No5/6, N. 4, No13, 4.62, CK1, PKK1). All layers of tongue dorsal mucosa, gingiva, and buccal mucosa were positively stained with AE3, AE5, and 903, However, the staining pattern with other monoclonal antibodies varied due to the site in the oral cavity. The corneal type of keratin was detected in all oral mucosa, and the esophageal type was observed in interpapillal mucosa of the tongue dorsum, gingiva and buccal mucosa. The skin type was detected in tongue dorsal mucosa and gingiva, and the simple epithelial type was detected in buccal mucosa. As described above, the expression of cytokeratins was significantly different depending on the sites. These results suggested that the differentiation of oral mucosa must be controlled by extremely complicated and highly organized processes.
