Anat Cell Biol.  2013 Mar;46(1):32-38. 10.5115/acb.2013.46.1.32.

Spatial relationship between expression of cytokeratin-19 and that of connexin-43 in human fetal kidney

• Hieda K
• Hayashi S
• Kim JH
• Murakami G
• Cho BH
• Matsubara

• KMID: 2046755
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2013.46.1.32

Abstract

Connexin-43, a major gap junction protein, and cytokeratin-19, one of the intermediate filament keratins, are known to be markers of well-differentiated epithelium. In this study, we investigated the expression of these markers in the head region, lungs, and abdominal organs of 10 human mid-term fetuses. The expression of connexin-43 was found to be restricted to the dura mater, kidney, and adrenal cortex. In the kidney, we found a clear site-dependent difference in the expression pattern of these markers: connexin-43 expression was observed in the tubules of the renal cortex whereas cytokeratin-19 was strongly expressed in the collecting ducts and renal pelvis. This difference remained unchanged throughout the fetal stages examined. Immunoreactivity was not observed for either of the markers in the intrarenal vessels, including the glomeruli, and mesangial cells. Connexin-43 expression seemed to be restricted to the metanephric vesicle-derived structures that differentiate in the urogenital ridge of the splanchnic mesoderm. The adrenal cortex also originates from the same para-aortic mesoderm. In contrast, in the urogenital organs, cytokeratin-19 seemed to be expressed in ducts derived from the urogenital sinus.

Keyword

Connexin-43; Cytokeratin-19; Kidney; Immunohistochemistry; Human fetus

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Cortex
Connexins
Dura Mater
Epithelium
Fetus
Head
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Intermediate Filaments
Keratin-19
Keratins
Kidney
Kidney Pelvis
Lung
Mesangial Cells
Mesoderm
Connexins
Keratin-19
Keratins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Immunohistochemical analysis of cytokeratin and connexin in the human fetal lung and abdominal organs: a fetus at 12 weeks. (A, D, G, J) Expression of cytokeratin-19 (CK19); (B, E, H, K) expression of cytokeratin-14 (CK14); (C, F, I, L) expression of connexin-43 (CX43). CK19 immunopositivity is seen in the lung (A), kidney (D), colon (G), and gallbladder (J), whereas these tissues lack CK14 immunoreactivity. The kidney and adrenal cortex (F) show positive results for CX43. Scale bar in (C)=0.5 mm (A-L).

• 

  Fig. 2 Immunohistochemical results for cytokeratin and connexin in the human fetal kidney: 2 fetuses at 16 weeks. Panels (A) and (B) and panels (C) and (D) display adjacent sections of the same specimen. Connexin-43 (CX43) immunopositivity is seen in the renal tubules of the cortex (A, C), whereas strong immunoreactivity is seen for cytokeratin-19 (CK19) in the collecting ducts and renal pelvis (B, D). Scale bar in (A)=0.5 mm (A-D).

• 

  Fig. 3 Immunohistochemical analysis for cytokeratin and connexin in the human fetal kidney: a fetus at 11 weeks. Panels (A) and (B) and panels (C) and (D) show adjacent sections. Connexin-43 (CX43) immunopositivity is seen in some of the renal tubules of the cortex (arrows in A and C), whereas cytokeratin-19 (CK19) shows strong immunoreactivity in the collecting ducts and renal pelvis (B, D). Scale bar in (A)=0.2 mm (A-D).

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