Martinez G, Carnazza M L, Leonardi R, Loreto C
Istituto di Anatomia Umana, Università degli Studi, Catania.
Minerva Stomatol. 2000 Jul-Aug;49(7-8):333-7.
Vimentin (57 Kda) is a cytoskeletal protein. Odontoblasts contain vimentin and it seems that this protein may function to keep the organelles and the nucleus in a definite place. However little is known about vimentin in the cytoskeleton of odontoblast processes. The purpose of the present study was, therefore to immunolocalize vimentin intermediate filament in odontoblast body and process in order to clarify the distribution of this cytoskeletal element.
12 extracted intact premolars, from children, were used in the present study. Each specimen was decalcified in EDTA. Each tissue portion was embedded in paraffin. On sections a monoclonal anti-vimentin antibody was applied. The immunoreaction was visualized by ABC technique.
Vimentin was expressed in the cell body and cell process of odontoblasts, however with a different immunolabeling pattern related to the topographical area of observations. In odontoblast cell bodies vimentin showed a perinuclear and cytoplasmatic staining. In the very initial portion of odontoblast process immunoreaction products for vimentin were observed in the core of the process. In the middle zone of dentin vimentin immunoreactions products also showed a granular and cross-bridge arrangements, and also, vimentin was also detected under the plasma membrane, at the periphery of the odontoblast process. Nearby the dentino-enamel junction vimentin immunolabeling was appreciated, mainly under the plasma membrane.
On the basis of vimentin distribution in the odontoblast process it seems plausible to assume that this IF vimentin is important in forming a flexible scaffold essential for structuring cytoplasm.
波形蛋白（57千道尔顿）是一种细胞骨架蛋白。成牙本质细胞含有波形蛋白，并且这种蛋白似乎可能起到将细胞器和细胞核保持在特定位置的作用。然而，对于成牙本质细胞突起细胞骨架中的波形蛋白了解甚少。因此，本研究的目的是对波形蛋白中间丝在成牙本质细胞体和突起中进行免疫定位，以阐明这种细胞骨架成分的分布。
本研究使用了12颗从儿童口中拔除的完整前磨牙。每个标本在乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA）中脱钙。每个组织部分用石蜡包埋。在切片上应用单克隆抗波形蛋白抗体。通过ABC技术使免疫反应可视化。
波形蛋白在成牙本质细胞的细胞体和细胞突起中表达，然而与观察的局部区域相关的免疫标记模式不同。在成牙本质细胞体中，波形蛋白显示核周和细胞质染色。在成牙本质细胞突起的最起始部分，在突起的核心观察到波形蛋白的免疫反应产物。在牙本质的中间区域，波形蛋白免疫反应产物也显示出颗粒状和交叉桥排列，并且在成牙本质细胞突起周边的质膜下也检测到波形蛋白。在牙本质-釉质交界处附近，波形蛋白免疫标记可见，主要在质膜下。
基于波形蛋白在成牙本质细胞突起中的分布，似乎可以合理推测这种波形蛋白中间丝对于形成构建细胞质所必需的灵活支架很重要。
