Katsuyuki Inoue

Localization of Heat Shock Protein 27 (Hsp27) in the Rat Gingiva and its Changes with Tooth Eruption

Heat shock protein 27 kDa (Hsp27) functions as a molecular chaperon to prevent apoptosis as well as to contribute to the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation during development. In the present study, the localization of Hsp27 in the oral epithelium of rats and its expression change during formation of the gingiva with the tooth eruption were examined immunohistochemically to elucidate the roles of Hsp27 in the oral mucosa. In adult rats, Hsp27-immunoreactivity was localized in the prickle and granular layers but absent in the basal and horny layers of the oral epithelium. On the other hand, in the outer and sulcular epithelia of the free gingival, Hsp27-immunoreactivity was detected in the whole layers, while it was not found in the proliferation zone of the junctional epithelium immunoreactive for Ki67. In immature rats on 10th postnatal day, Hsp27-immunoreactivity was intense in the prickle and granular layers of the oral epithelium, but was not detected in its basal layer. In rats at the eruptive phase on 15th postnatal day, Hsp27-immunoreactivity was detected in sites of the basal layer adjacent to where the dental cusps penetrated through the oral epithelium. Although the immunoreactivity for Ki67 was found in the basal layer of the oral epithelium, it was not localized in the Hsp27-immunopositive sites of tooth-penetration in the basal layer. Just after the tooth-eruption on 20th postnatal day, Hsp27-immunoreactivity was not found in the stratified squamous epithelium at the dentogingival junction, whereas it was intense in a single layer of cuboidal epithelial cells attached to the tooth neck. Ki67-positive cells were scattered in the stratified squamous epithelium at the dentogingival junction, whereas no positive cells were found in the portion of a single layer of cuboidal epithelial cells. These findings suggest that the outer and sulcular epithelia of the free gingiva have a relatively slower rate of proliferation than other gingival and oral epithelia, and that Hsp27 might inhibit the proliferation of the basal cells. Such specific phenomenon in the free gingiva occurred immediately after the dental cusps were exposed to the oral cavity.

Development and regression of the thyroglossal duct in mice.

The thyroid anlage develops in the foramen caecum area of the tongue, and migrates through the anterior neck towards its final position in front of the laryngeal cartilages. During migration, the thyroglossal duct, a temporary structure connecting the thyroid anlage and the foramen caecum, is recognized. In the present study, chronological changes and apoptosis in the thyroglossal duct of mice were investigated histochemically using an antibody against Nkx2-1, initially identified as a thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF1), and the TUNEL reaction in consecutive serial sagittal sections. At embryonic day 10.00 (E10.00), the thyroid anlage was Nkx2-1-immunoreactive and located just below the foramen caecum. As the thyroid anlage descended, the thyroglossal duct was formed at E10.25, being less than 10μm in diameter. By E10.75, the Nkx2-1-positive thyroglossal duct had progressively elongated up to 100μm. At E11.00 the thyroglossal duct began to disappear, beginning in its mid-portion, and finally became invisible at E11.50. At E11.00-12.00, apoptotic cells were found in an area where the thyroglossal duct was partially discontinuous. After E12.00, cartilaginous tissue of the hyoid bone anlage developed in the mid-portion of the area where the thyroglossal duct had regressed. Immunoreactivity for thyroglobulin, a marker of differentiated thyroid endocrine cells, was detected at E13.00. These results strongly suggest that the mouse thyroglossal duct disappears as a result of apoptosis before differentiation of the endocrine thyroid.