Folia Biologica
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Charles University 

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Fol. Biol. 2006, 52, 167-172

https://doi.org/10.14712/fb2006052050167

Expression of Actin Isoforms in Human Auricular Cartilage

R. Kaňa1, P. Dundr2, D. Tvrdík2, E. Nečas3, Ctibor Povýšil2

1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and the General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
2Institute of Pathology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and the General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
3Institute of Pathological Physiology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and the General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic

Received July 2006
Accepted October 2006

The objective of this study was to determine whether human auricular chondrocytes can also express α α−smooth muscle actin. Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies for α α-smooth actin, muscle-specific actin, β-actin, S-100 protein, CD34, and desmin was performed on samples of human ear cartilage obtained from 20 individuals during a partial resection of the ear for different reasons. Moreover, the RT-PCR analysis of actin isoforms in auricular chondrocytes was performed. Approximately 60 % of the chondrocytes of the ear cartilage expressed α α-smooth muscle actin as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in all the examined samples. Actin-positive chondrocytes occurred in both external subperichondrial layers of the auricular cartilage. This finding was confirmed by the RT-PCR technique. The knowledge of this fact could help us to better understand the chondrocyte changes occurring during the healing and transplantation of auricular cartilage. The question of whether it is necessary to refer to these predominating cells in ear cartilage as myochondrocytes is considered. This is the first report of an unusual immunophenotype and contractile potential for human auricular chondrocytes.

Funding

This work was supported by Grant from the Internal Grant Agency of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic NR/8150-4.

References

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