[Expression of annexins Al and A2 in the mucosa of the upper airdigestive tract].

Introduction: Annexins A1 and A2 have been related with the maintenance of tissue integrity. They have been identified in a wide variety of tissues, but little is known regarding their expression in upper the aerodigestive tract. The aim of this work is to describe the expression of these proteins in the mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract.
Material and Methods: Tissue samples from respiratory (nasal and laryngeal) and digestive (oral and pharyngeal) mucosa from non-oncological patients were studied. Annexin A1 and A2 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry.
Results: Both annexins were expressed in the ciliated and in the stratified non-keratinized epithelia, but with a different pattern; ANXA1 was expressed in the more differentiated cells whereas ANXA2 was expressed in the less differentiated ones (with the exception of the cilia of ciliated cells).
Conclusion: Although annexins A1 and A2 are structurally and philogenetically related its expression pattern in the upper aerodigestive tract suggests that they have different functions.