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Cellular detection of sst2A receptors in human gastrointestinal tissue
M Gugger1, B Waser, A Kappeler
1Division of Cell Biology and Experimental Cancer Research, Institute of Pathology, University of Berne, PO Box 62, Murtenstrasse 31, CH-3010 Berne, Switzerland.
Background And Aims:
Many neuroendocrine gastrointestinal tumours express receptors for the regulatory peptide somatostatin. Among the five existing somatostatin receptor (sst) subtypes, sst2A is the most frequently expressed in these tumours. However, little information is available about the cellular location of sst2A in corresponding non-neoplastic epithelial tissues.
Methods:
We searched for sst2A immunoreactive cells in non-neoplastic gastrointestinal tissues, and evaluated their number and immunohistochemical characteristics with neuroendocrine markers.
Results:
The gastric antrum showed numerous sst2A cells, situated in the epithelium, corresponding to gastrin containing neuroendocrine cells, while the gastric corpus was largely devoid of sst2A cells, including enterochromaffin-like cells. The remaining foregut, namely the duodenum and proximal jejunum, also contained a large number of sst2A cells, all being neuroendocrine cells and many of them characterised as gastrin cells. Sst2A cells were also detected in the midgut, in low numbers in the epithelium of the distal jejunum and ileum, but not in the appendix vermiformis, the caecum, or the hindgut, despite the large number of neuroendocrine cells present in this area. In addition, sst2A cells were found in the whole gastrointestinal tract in the myenteric and submucosal plexus.
Conclusions:
While sst2A receptors on antral gastrin cells presumably mediate somatostatin inhibition of gastrin secretion, the effects of somatostatin on motility and ion transport in the lower gastrointestinal tract may be mediated by sst2A receptors in the neural plexus. These data provide a molecular basis for the physiological actions of somatostatin in human gastrointestinal tissue.
Insights
Somatostatin receptor 2A (sst2A) is found in neuroendocrine cells throughout the human gastrointestinal tract, particularly in the stomach and small intestine. These findings explain somatostatin
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Neuroendocrinology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Neuroendocrine gastrointestinal tumors frequently express somatostatin receptors (sst).
- sst2A is the most common subtype in these tumors.
- Limited data exists on sst2A localization in normal gastrointestinal tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular distribution of sst2A in non-neoplastic human gastrointestinal tissues.
- To characterize sst2A-expressing cells using neuroendocrine markers.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to detect sst2A.
- Non-neoplastic gastrointestinal tissues were analyzed.
- sst2A cells were quantified and characterized.
Main Results:
- Numerous sst2A cells were found in the gastric antrum epithelium, identified as gastrin cells.
- The gastric corpus had few sst2A cells.
- Duodenum and proximal jejunum showed abundant sst2A-positive neuroendocrine cells, many being gastrin cells.
- Low numbers of sst2A cells were present in the distal jejunum and ileum.
- sst2A cells were also detected in the myenteric and submucosal neural plexuses throughout the GI tract.
Conclusions:
- sst2A receptors on antral gastrin cells likely regulate gastrin secretion.
- sst2A receptors in the neural plexus may mediate somatostatin's effects on motility and ion transport in the lower GI tract.
- Provides a molecular basis for somatostatin's physiological actions in the human GI tract.
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