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Ghrelin expression in gut endocrine growths
Guido Rindi1, Antonella Savio, Antonio Torsello
1Department of Pathology, University of Brescia, Italy. guido.rindi@unipr.it
Histochemistry and Cell Biology
|July 11, 2002
Summary
Ghrelin, a gut hormone, was found in endocrine tumors of the stomach, pancreas, and lung. These ghrelin cells appear in well-differentiated gastric tumors, independent of endocrine hyperfunction.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
Background:
- Ghrelin is a newly identified gut hormone with diverse physiological roles.
- Ghrelin has been detected in various gut derivatives during development and adulthood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and distribution of ghrelin in gastric endocrine growths.
- To examine ghrelin occurrence in endocrine tumors of the pancreas, intestine, and lung.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a specific anti-ghrelin serum for immunohistochemical analysis.
- Examined 16 gastric mucosa specimens with endocrine cell hyperplasia and 75 endocrine tumors.
Main Results:
- Ghrelin-immunoreactive cells were present in normal and hyperplastic gastric mucosa.
- Ghrelin cells were detected in 76% of gastric, 40% of pancreatic, and 50% of pulmonary endocrine tumors.
- No ghrelin immunoreactivity was observed in intestinal tumors or poorly differentiated carcinomas.
Conclusions:
- Ghrelin-producing cells are involved in the development of gut endocrine growths.
- Ghrelin expression in well-differentiated gastric endocrine tumors is independent of endocrine hyperfunction.