Apoptosis in human salivary glands: evaluation of markers during the morphogenesis and tumorigenesis of human salivary glands using pleomorphic adenoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma as models

Abstract

Salivary glands are complex structures formed by a system of ducts and acini. During salivary gland morphogenesis, the formation of the salivary gland involves coordination of morphogenetic mechanisms, including regulated cell shape changes and gene expression, and directed cell migration leading to a fully developed gland with important secretory functions. Understanding the mechanisms of glandular morphogenesis may be important to comprehend the tumorigenic process of salivary gland and their different neoplasms. Apoptosis is one of the major processes involved in lumen formation during morphogenesis of glandular structures, including salivary gland development. Salivary glands neoplasms represent a diverse group of tumors with different characteristics. In several occasions, differential diagnosis of these lesions is difficult. These difficulties motivate the search for prognostic/diagnostic molecular markers in order to improve accuracy. In this study, we will investigate the relationship between mucin and phenotipic markers expression and apoptotic events during salivary gland branching morphogenesis by using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and 3D cell culture. We will also study the expression of proteins related to apoptosis in salivary gland tumors by using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence and we will also study the expression of apoptosis-related miRNAs by using Real Time RT-PCR. (AU)