E-Cadherin and Transglutaminase-1 Epithelial Barrier Restoration Precedes Type IV Collagen Basement Membrane Reconstruction following Vocal Fold Mucosal Injury

The vocal fold epithelium is critical to upper airway immunologic defense and water/ion transport; therefore, any form of physical trauma or insult increases the vulnerability of this structure to functional impairment and pathogen invasion/ infection. In this study, we examined the reestablishment of epithelial and basement membrane barrier structures in a well-established rat model of vocal fold mucosal injury. We observed active cell recruitment culminating in peak hyperplasia at 3 days postinjury, the establishment of robust Ecadherin+ and transglutaminase-1+ biochemical barrier signals along the epithelial surface by 3 days postinjury, and the persistent absence of a type IV collagen+ basement membrane at 7 days postinjury. The distinct spatial and temporal immunoactivity of these molecules is consistent with a programmed repair process driving the restoration of vocal fold mucosal integrity and permeability. These data may inform future efforts to optimize functional mucosal recovery postinjury and avoid undesirable events such as barrier compromise or epithelial metaplasia. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel Accepted after revision: June 23, 2010 Published online: October 20, 2010 Dr. Nathan V. Welham Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health K4/723 CSC, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792 (USA) Tel. +1 608 263 0121, Fax +1 608 252 0939, E-Mail welham @ surgery.wisc.edu © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel Accessible online at: www.karger.com/cto Abbreviations used in this paper ANOVA analysis of variance A-P anterior-posterior Col-IV type IV collagen CPF ciliated pseudocolumnar formation DAPI 4 ,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride E-cad E-cadherin HE hematoxylin and eosin LP lamina propria M-L medial-lateral S-I superior-inferior SSC stratified squamous cell TGase-1 transglutaminase-1 D ow nl oa de d by : 54 .7 0. 40 .1 1 11 /1 9/ 20 17 1 2: 13 :1 9 P M