Development Expression of CD3 ? Epitope in the Human Cerebellar Purkinje Cells from Fetuses, Neonates, Infants to Adults: An Immunohistochemical Study - Abstract
Background: Soma of human cerebellar Purkinje cell in adults has been reported to be positive for CD3, which is a surface marker only present on the cell membrane of T lymphocyte that recognizes antigen. Morphological development of Purkinje cell from fetus to infant stage is remarkable. Therefore, we examined CD3-immunoreactive development process of Purkinje cells from fetus, neonate, infant, to adult stage along with the morphological development.
Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on autopsy specimens of fetuses, neonates, infants, and adults. Paraffin sections of autopsied cerebella were immunostained with polyclonal antibody against CD3 epsilon (?) epitope.
Results: In human fetal cerebellum from 16-20 weeks, there was no positive finding for CD3 ? epitope. At the gestation age of 21-27 weeks, soma of Purkinje cell became positive for CD3 ? epitope. From 29 weeks of gestation to one year and six months after birth, the arborization areas positive for CD3 ?epitope gradually extended in the order from primary, secondary, to tertiary dendrites of Purkinje cell. From one year and six months to adulthood, Purkinje cell showed that positive finding for CD3 ? epitope was confirmed in soma as well as primary, secondary, and tertiary dendrites.
Conclusions: We show that there are new developmental changes in immunohistochemical staining pattern of CD3 ? epitope in Purkinje cells from fetus to adult stage. Chronological changes in expression of CD3 ? epitope in Purkinje cells that we discovered are different from previously-reported markers of Purkinje cells. It is indicated that expression of CD3 ? epitope in human Purkinje cells is involved with morphogenesis and morphological maintenance of developmental stage of Purkinje cells.