Kutta Hannes, Willer Andreas, Steven Philipp, Bräuer Lars, Tsokos Michael, Paulsen Friedrich
Department of Anatomy, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
J Anat. 2008 Oct;213(4):473-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2008.00960.x. Epub 2008 Jul 22.
The subglottic region of the larynx is of high clinical relevance with regard to infections and malignancies. Little is known about the distribution of mucins and antimicrobial substances in this area. In this study, we have investigated the mucin distribution in the normal subglottis of the larynx. Moreover, we analysed the expression of lysozyme and lactoferrin in this area. Therefore, the subglottic region of 34 larynges was investigated immunohistochemically with different antibodies to mucins and antimicrobial substances. The epithelium reacted positive with antibodies to mucins MUC1 (34/34), 5AC (26/34), 5B (10/34), 7 (8/34), 8 (10/34) and 16 (19/34); submucosal glands were positive to mucins MUC1 (34/34), 5B (10/34), 7 (8/34), and 16 (19/34); high columnar epithelial cells and serous parts of subepithelial seromucous glands were also positive for lysozyme (34/34) and lactoferrin (34/34). The results show that human subglottic epithelium and subepithelial submucosal glands produce a broad spectrum of mucins that is almost comparable with that in other areas of the respiratory tract. We hypothesize that the mucin diversity of the subglottis has an impact on positive functional consequences during vocal production and antimicrobial defence. This antimicrobial defence is supported by synthesis and secretion of antimicrobial substances such as lysozyme and lactoferrin. Moreover, knowledge of the observed distribution pattern of mucins in the subglottis can be a useful tool for a classification of subglottic laryngeal carcinomas.
喉部声门下区域在感染和恶性肿瘤方面具有高度临床相关性。关于该区域黏蛋白和抗菌物质的分布了解甚少。在本研究中，我们调查了正常喉部声门下区域的黏蛋白分布。此外，我们分析了该区域溶菌酶和乳铁蛋白的表达。因此，我们使用针对黏蛋白和抗菌物质的不同抗体，对34个喉部的声门下区域进行了免疫组织化学研究。上皮细胞对黏蛋白MUC1（34/34）、5AC（26/34）、5B（10/34）、7（8/34）、8（10/34）和16（19/34）的抗体呈阳性反应；黏膜下腺对黏蛋白MUC1（34/34）、5B（10/34）、7（8/34）和16（19/34）呈阳性；高柱状上皮细胞和上皮下浆液黏液腺的浆液部分对溶菌酶（34/34）和乳铁蛋白（34/34）也呈阳性。结果表明，人类声门下上皮和上皮下黏膜下腺产生的黏蛋白种类广泛，几乎与呼吸道其他区域相当。我们推测，声门下黏蛋白的多样性对发声和抗菌防御过程中的积极功能后果有影响。这种抗菌防御由溶菌酶和乳铁蛋白等抗菌物质的合成和分泌提供支持。此外，了解声门下黏蛋白的观察分布模式可为声门下喉癌的分类提供有用工具。
