Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
Clin Exp Dermatol. 2012 Jun;37(4):428-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2011.04301.x. Epub 2012 Feb 14.
The REIC/Dkk (reduced expression in immortalized cells/Dickkopf-3) gene was originally identified as a tumour-suppressor gene with reduced expression in immortalized cells, cancer-cell lines and tumour tissues. Of the four members of the Dkk family, the REIC/Dkk-3 protein is unique in terms of DNA sequence, expression profiles and biological functions. In this study, we investigated and compared the expression patterns of the REIC/Dkk-3 protein in mouse squamous epithelia. Expression of REIC/Dkk-3 in the back skin was localized to the upper layer of the interfollicular epidermis, and the inner root sheath of hair follicles. Expression of REIC/Dkk-3 was detected in the ear skin, oral mucosa, tongue, oesophagus, uterine cervix, footpad and tail skin, but not in the cornea. Interestingly, expression was localized to the upper layers of these epithelial tissues. The physiological function of REIC/Dkk-3 is still unclear, but our detailed observation highlight its unique expression pattern in squamous epithelia.
REIC/Dkk（永生化细胞中表达减少的基因/Dickkopf-3）基因最初被鉴定为肿瘤抑制基因，在永生化细胞、癌细胞系和肿瘤组织中表达减少。在 Dkk 家族的四个成员中，REIC/Dkk-3 蛋白在 DNA 序列、表达谱和生物学功能方面是独特的。在本研究中，我们研究并比较了 REIC/Dkk-3 蛋白在小鼠鳞状上皮中的表达模式。REIC/Dkk-3 在背部皮肤中的表达定位于毛囊的滤泡间表皮上层和内根鞘。REIC/Dkk-3 的表达在耳部皮肤、口腔黏膜、舌、食管、子宫颈、足底和尾皮中检测到，但在角膜中未检测到。有趣的是，表达定位于这些上皮组织的上层。REIC/Dkk-3 的生理功能尚不清楚，但我们的详细观察突出了其在鳞状上皮中的独特表达模式。
