IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF CYTOKERATIN EXPRESSION IN SUBCOLUMNAR RESERVE CELLS OF HUMAN UTERINE CERVIX

We have studied the cytokeratin expression in subcolumnar reserve cell s of the human uterine cervix using the immunohistochemical method. Fi ve commercially available cytokeratin antibodies (AE-3, M630, M717, LL 002, and CAM5.2) were used to stain a normal uterine cervix. Endocervi cal columnar cells stained strongly with CAM5.2, which reacts with low molecular-weight keratins (simple epithelium-type). The stratified sq uamous epithelium stained strongly in all layers with M630, which reac ts with high molecular-weight keratins (squamous-type). Subcolumnar re serve cells stained not only simple epithelium-type cytokeratin (CAM5. 2) but also squamous-type cytokeratins (M630, LL002). This data presen ted so far indicates that subcolumnar reserve cells exhibit squamous c haracteristics. In addition, they also exhibit the cytokeratins typica lly found in non-stratified (simple) epithelia including endocervical columnar cells. This supports the notion that subcolumnar reserve cell s have the potential to give rise not only to squamous epithelial cell s but also to columnar cells.