TY - JOUR
T1 - Merkel cells in the oral mucosa
AU - Righi, Alberto
AU - Betts, Christine M.
AU - Marchetti, Claudio
AU - Marucci, Gianluca
AU - Montebugnoli, Lucio
AU - Prati, Carlo
AU - Eusebi, Leonardo H U
AU - Muzzi, Luciana
AU - Ragazzini, Teresa
AU - Foschini, Maria P.
PY - 2006/7
Y1 - 2006/7
N2 - Ninety-eight consecutive surgical biopsies of oral mucosa from 96 patients were evaluated immunohistochemically with an anti-cytokeratin 20 (CK 20) antibody to evidence Merkel cells (MC). Fifteen cases, showing the highest number of MC, were additionally studied with chromogranin A, S-100 protein, neuro filaments, epithelial membrane antigen, and double immunostaining for CK 20 and Ki67 antibodies to evaluate MC proliferation. Electron microscopy was performed in 2 cases. MC were observed in 58 cases. The highest number of MC was found in the gingival, buccal, and palate mucosa, especially in chronically damaged oral mucosa (lichen and chronic aspecific inflammation) as well as in the mucosa overlying tumors rather than in normal or acute inflammation. MC were not observed in dysplastic or neoplastic epithelium. MC showed evidence of proliferation, as demonstrated by Ki67 positivity, in 3 cases. In conclusion, MC appear to play a role in the reparative processes of oral mucosa.
AB - Ninety-eight consecutive surgical biopsies of oral mucosa from 96 patients were evaluated immunohistochemically with an anti-cytokeratin 20 (CK 20) antibody to evidence Merkel cells (MC). Fifteen cases, showing the highest number of MC, were additionally studied with chromogranin A, S-100 protein, neuro filaments, epithelial membrane antigen, and double immunostaining for CK 20 and Ki67 antibodies to evaluate MC proliferation. Electron microscopy was performed in 2 cases. MC were observed in 58 cases. The highest number of MC was found in the gingival, buccal, and palate mucosa, especially in chronically damaged oral mucosa (lichen and chronic aspecific inflammation) as well as in the mucosa overlying tumors rather than in normal or acute inflammation. MC were not observed in dysplastic or neoplastic epithelium. MC showed evidence of proliferation, as demonstrated by Ki67 positivity, in 3 cases. In conclusion, MC appear to play a role in the reparative processes of oral mucosa.
KW - Merkel cell
KW - Oral mucosa
KW - Proliferation
KW - Reparative process
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U2 - 10.1177/1066896906290053
DO - 10.1177/1066896906290053
M3 - Article
C2 - 16959700
AN - SCOPUS:33749010920
VL - 14
SP - 206
EP - 211
JO - International Journal of Surgical Pathology
JF - International Journal of Surgical Pathology
SN - 1066-8969
IS - 3
ER -