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A Quantitative Assay for Insulin-expressing Colony-forming Progenitors
Published on: November 28, 2011
Expression of human regenerating gene mRNA and its product in normal and neoplastic human pancreas
N Kimura1, H Yonekura, H Okamoto
1Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Background:
Localization of human regenerating gene (reg) mRNA and its product was investigated in normal and neoplastic human pancreas with the in situ hybridization method and immunohistochemical studies.
Methods:
Both reg mRNA and reg protein were observed in acinar cells of the pancreas, but neither was found in ductal or islet cells. Immunoreactive reg was observed in an acinar cell carcinoma, a pancreatoblastoma, a solid and cystic tumor, and 5 of 20 duct cell carcinomas, but it was not found in 15 endocrine tumors and 2 microcystic adenomas.
Results:
For comparison with reg, alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), lysozyme, chromogranin A (CMG), CA 19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin, vimentin, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were assessed in those tumors. An acinar cell carcinoma and a pancreatoblastoma had positive results for AAT, lysozyme, cytokeratin, and AFP but negative results for vimentin. An acinar cell carcinoma showed cells focally immunoreactive for CMG and CEA. A solid and cystic tumor had strongly positive results for AAT and vimentin and focally positive results for CMG and pancreatic hormones. Microcystic adenomas had abundant glycogen and strong immunoreactivity for cytokeratin. Ductal cell carcinomas showed cells focally positive for AAT, lysozyme, CMG, CA 19-9, and CEA.
Conclusions:
The localization of reg protein was not consist with that of any other proteins examined in the current study. Thus, reg protein was considered a useful marker for acinar cell differentiation; however, ectopic expression of reg also was observed in ductal cell carcinomas. In ductal cell carcinomas, expression of reg immunoreactivity was considered as one of phenotypic heterogeneity, as seen in AAT, lysozyme, and CMG immunoreactivity.
Insights
Human regenerating gene (reg) protein is a useful marker for acinar cell differentiation in the pancreas. However, ectopic expression of reg was also observed in ductal cell carcinomas, indicating phenotypic heterogeneity.
Area of Science:
- Pancreatic cancer research
- Molecular pathology
- Cell differentiation markers
Background:
- Investigating the expression and localization of human regenerating gene (reg) mRNA and protein in normal and cancerous human pancreatic tissues.
- Utilizing in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods to precisely map reg expression patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the cellular localization of reg protein in the pancreas.
- To evaluate reg as a potential diagnostic marker for pancreatic tumors.
- To compare reg expression with other established tumor markers.
Main Methods:
- In situ hybridization to detect reg mRNA.
- Immunohistochemistry to detect reg protein and other markers (AAT, lysozyme, CMG, CA 19-9, CEA, cytokeratin, vimentin, AFP).
- Analysis of normal pancreatic tissue and various pancreatic neoplasms including acinar cell carcinoma, pancreatoblastoma, solid and cystic tumor, duct cell carcinomas, endocrine tumors, and microcystic adenomas.
Main Results:
- Reg mRNA and protein were primarily found in pancreatic acinar cells, absent in ductal and islet cells.
- Reg protein was detected in acinar cell carcinoma, pancreatoblastoma, solid and cystic tumor, and 50% of duct cell carcinomas.
- Expression patterns of reg differed from other markers, though some overlap was noted in ductal cell carcinomas, suggesting phenotypic heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- Reg protein serves as a valuable marker for identifying acinar cell differentiation in pancreatic tissues.
- Ectopic expression of reg in ductal cell carcinomas highlights its potential role in understanding tumor heterogeneity.
- Further research into reg expression can aid in refining pancreatic cancer diagnostics and understanding tumor biology.
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