Expression of an immediate early gene, IEX-1, in human tissues.

IEX-1 is an immediate early gene that is induced by ionizing radiation, ultraviolet radiation, and a variety of growth factors. It plays an important role in the regulation of cellular growth. Earlier, we performed studies on the distribution of IEX-1 messenger RNA in different tissues and on the subcellular localization of IEX-1 protein. No reports, however, have appeared concerning the distribution of IEX-1 protein in a variety of human tissues. We raised a polyclonal antibody against a synthetic IEX-1 peptide (amino acids 51-75) and used the antibody to study the distribution of the protein in human tissues. We demonstrate that IEX-1 is strongly expressed in epithelia of the skin, trachea, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary systems, as well as in the pancreas and breast. Endothelial cells within the vasculature of most tissue/organs also strongly express IEX-1. Liver, lung, lymph nodes, and placenta stain weakly. No IEX-1 epitopes were detected in the thymus, testes, ovary, myocardium, skeletal muscle, or spleen. We conclude that IEX-1 is widely expressed in epithelial and endocrine tissues, as well as in vascular endothelium.