Immunohistochemical expression of tenascin in normal human salivary glands and in pleomorphic adenomas.

The presence of the extracellular matrix glycoprotein tenascin was studied immunohistochemically in normal human salivary glands and in pleomorphic adenomas. Its expression was compared to that of fibronectin, and type IV collagen. In the normal salivary gland, tenascin was found with interruptions in periductal tissues, and continuously in blood vessels, fat cells and around nerve bundles. In pleomorphic adenoma, tenascin was detected surrounding the clusters of epithelioid cells, in areas with a myxoid and a chondroid matrix, and around some myoepithelial cells as a halo. As compared to fibronectin, there is a similar location of tenascin and fibronectin around tumor cell clusters but not in myxoid and chondroid matrices. Fibronectin was found around the cells in chondroid matrix. In conclusion, tenascin is not only found in malignant tumors but also in benign tumors such as pleomorphic adenoma. The presence of tenascin as a halo around myoepithelial cells suggests a role of these cells in development of myxoid and chondroid matrices.