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Metalloproteinases mediate mucin 5AC expression by epidermal growth factor receptor activation.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is marked by alveolar enlargement and excess production of airway mucus. Acrolein, a component of cigarette smoke, increases mucin 5AC (MUC5AC), a prevalent airway mucin in NCI-H292 cells by transcriptional activation, but the signal transduction pathways involved in acrolein-induced MUC5AC expression are unknown. Acrolein depleted cellular glutathione at doses of 10 muM or greater, higher than those sufficient (0.03 muM) to increase MUC5AC mRNA, suggesting that MUC5AC expression was independent of oxidative stress. In contrast, acrolein increased MUC5AC mRNA levels by phosphorylating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/2, or MAPK 3/2(ERK1/2). Pretreating the cells with an EGFR-neutralizing antibody, or a metalloproteinase inhibitor, decreased the acrolein-induced MUC5AC mRNA increase. Small, interfering RNA directed against ADAM17 or MMP9 inhibited the acrolein-induced MUC5AC mRNA increase. Acrolein increased the release and subsequent activation of pro-MMP9. Acrolein increased MMP9 and decreased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3), an endogenous inhibitor of ADAM17, transcripts. Together, these data suggest that acrolein induces MUC5AC expression via an initial ligand-dependent activation of EGFR mediated by ADAM17 and MMP9. In addition, a prolonged effect of acrolein may be mediated by altering MMP9 and TIMP3 transcription.

Acrolein↗

Reduced airway inflammation and remodeling in parallel with mucin 5AC protein expression decreased by s-carboxymethylcysteine, a mucoregulant, in the airways of rats exposed to sulfur dioxide.

BACKGROUND: Human obstructive airway diseases are histopathologically characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, and mucus hypersecretion in airways. We prepared a rat model of airway injury by exposure of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and then evaluated the effects of S-carboxymethylcysteine (S-CMC), a mucoregulant. METHODS: Rats were exposed to SO2 gas for 44 days and orally given S-CMC at 250 mg/kg, twice daily, from 21 to 44 days of exposure for histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation. RESULTS: SO2 exposure induced inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus cell increase in rat airways. S-CMC treatment significantly decreased this inflammatory cell infiltration in proximal and peripheral airways. Morphometrically, SO2 exposure significantly increased the number of Alcian blue (pH 2.5)- and periodic acid-Schiff (AB/PAS)-positive cells in rat airways (11.8 x 10(-2) cell/nuclear profiles per micrometer basement membrane) compared to normal rat airways (1.6 x 10(-2) cell/nuclear profiles per micrometer basement membrane). S-CMC treatment significantly decreased the number of AB/PAS-positive cells (4.4 x 10(-2) cell/nuclear profiles per micrometer basement membrane, p < 0.01 vs. SO2-exposed rats). Immunohistochemically, SO2 exposure increased the expression of mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) protein in the airway epithelium of rats, but S-CMC treatment inhibited the increase. CONCLUSIONS: The increased mucus cells and MUC5AC protein expression seem associated with SO2-induced airway inflammation in rats. The fact that S-CMC suppresses airway inflammation and the increase in mucus cells and MUC5AC protein expression suggests that this mucoregulant may be advantageous in the treatment of inflammatory airway diseases with goblet cell hyperplasia.

Air Pollutants↗

Distinctive epidermal growth factor receptor/extracellular regulated kinase-independent and -dependent signaling pathways in the induction of airway mucin 5B and mucin 5AC expression by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate.

Elevated expression of gel-forming mucin (MUC) genes MUC5AC and MUC5B is a major pathological feature in various airway diseases. In this study, we show that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) is a potent stimulator for MUC5B gene expression under air-liquid interface conditions in three airway epithelial cell systems: primary cultures of normal human bronchial epithelial cells, the immortalized normal bronchial epithelial cell line HBE1, and the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. Stimulation was time- and dose-dependent, could be demonstrated by promoter-reporter gene transfection, and was sensitive to mithramycin A, suggesting the involvement of a specificity protein 1-based transcriptional mechanism in the stimulation. PMA-induced MUC5B message and promoter-reporter gene activity were specifically sensitive to inhibition of protein kinase C delta, which was further confirmed by the forced expression of dominant-negative mutant of protein kinase C delta. Regarding downstream transduction, PMA-induced MUC5B expression was sensitive to inhibitors and dominant-negative expression of signaling molecules involved in Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase kinase1-mediated c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 pathways. This contrasted with the inhibition of PMA-induced MUC5AC expression by inhibitors of the Ras/epidermal growth factor receptor/extracellular regulated kinase signaling pathway. These results demonstrate for the first time that PMA-stimulated MUC5AC and MUC5B expressions are regulated through distinctive epidermal growth factor receptor/extracellular regulated kinase-dependent and -independent signaling pathways.

Bronchi↗

Tissue microarray analysis of multiple gene expression in intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and carcinoma of the stomach.

AIMS: To study multiple gene expression patterns and their roles in the process of gastric carcinogenesis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a high-throughput tissue microarray technique, 169 specimens from gastric carcinomas, precursor lesions and normal mucosa were immunostained on a series of tissue chips for p53, p21(WAF1/CIP1) cyclin E, Bcl-2, c-met and mucin 5AC expression. The overexpression of p53 was observed in 10.7% of low-grade dysplasia (LGD), 38.1% of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and 39.6% of intestinal type gastric carcinoma (IGC). Expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) was found in 47.6% of incomplete intestinal metaplasia (IM), 36.7% of dysplasia (Dys) and 29.5% of IGC. The overexpression of cyclin E was more frequently present in carcinomas than in Dys (P < 0.05); moreover, high-level expression (> 25% in extent) of cyclin E was observed only among IGC. Abnormal Bcl-2 expression was present in 81.0% of incomplete IM, 69.4% of Dys and 22.9% of IGC. Along with progression of the lesion, the expression of c-met increased; in contrast, mucin 5AC decreased gradually. CONCLUSIONS: The specific expression pattern in incomplete IM was mucin 5AC+/Bcl-2+/p53-/cyclin E-, while mucin 5AC-/cyclin E+ was specific for IGC. p53 was useful for distinguishing LGD from HGD. High-level expression of cyclin E might be an indicator for malignant transformation of dysplasia.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

Role of hyaluronan and reactive oxygen species in tissue kallikrein-mediated epidermal growth factor receptor activation in human airways.

In human airways, oxidative stress-induced submucosal gland cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia, histological features of chronic bronchitis, have been linked to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation. To explore mechanisms of oxidative stress-induced EGFR activation and signaling, primary cultures of human tracheal submucosal gland (SMG) cells were used to assess EGFR ligand release, EGFR phosphorylation, p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation, and mucin 5AC synthesis in response to reactive oxygen species generated by xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO). Exposure to X/XO increased release of epidermal growth factor (EGF) from these cells, thereby activating EGFR, phosphorylating MAPK, and increasing mucin 5AC production. The importance of EGF was confirmed by transfection of small interfering RNA inhibiting pro-EGF production, which resulted in inhibition of EGFR and MAPK phosphorylation despite X/XO exposure. Blocking signaling by using specific protease inhibitors showed that tissue kallikrein (TK) processed pro-EGF in response to X/XO. Airway TK is bound and inactivated by luminal hyaluronan (HA), and treatment of submucosal gland cells with X/XO induced HA depolymerization and TK activation. These events were blocked by reactive oxygen species scavengers and addition of exogenous excess HA and TK inhibitors. Thus, HA plays a crucial role in regulating airway TK activity and thereby TK-mediated release of active EGF from human SMG cells. Sustained HA depolymerization is expected to cause TK activation, EGF release, and EGFR signaling and to lead to SMG cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia as well as mucus hypersecretion with subsequent airflow obstruction.

Bronchi↗

Ozone exposure enhances endotoxin-induced mucous cell metaplasia in rat pulmonary airways.

Coexposure to different airborne pollutants can be more toxic to airway epithelium than an inhalation exposure to a single pollutant. We have previously reported that coexposure to ozone, the primary oxidant gas in photochemical smog, and unique inflammatory biogenic substances such as allergens or bacterial endotoxin, results in augmented epithelial and inflammatory responses in rat nasal airways (M. V. Fanucchi et al., 1998, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 152, 1-9; J. G. Wagner et al., 2002a, Toxicol. Sci.67, 284-294). In the present study, we investigated the toxic interaction of ozone and endotoxin on the respiratory epithelium in the pulmonary airways of laboratory rodents. F344 rats were intranasally instilled with 0, 2, or 20 microg endotoxin dissolved in sterile saline (150 microl/nasal passage). Six h after instillation rats were exposed to air or 1 ppm ozone for 8 h. One day later, endotoxin and ozone exposures were repeated. Three days after the last exposure, rats were sacrificed, the lungs were lavaged with saline, and the collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was analyzed for inflammatory cells and secreted mucosubstances (mucin 5AC). Lung tissues were processed for light microscopic examination and morphometric analysis of numeric density of epithelial cell populations and volume densities of intraepithelial mucosubstances (IM). Conducting airways were microdissected and analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR to determine steady-state mucin gene (rMuc5AC) mRNA levels in respiratory epithelium. Endotoxin instillation caused a dose-dependent increase in BALF neutrophils that was further increased twofold in ozone-exposed rats given 20 microg endotoxin. Mucin glycoprotein 5AC was elevated in BALF from rats exposed to 20 microg, but not 2 microg endotoxin. Exposure to ozone alone did not cause mucus hypersecretion, but ozone potentiated mucus secretion in rats given 2 or 20 microg endotoxin. Airways of rats exposed to air or ozone alone had scant amounts of IM. Endotoxin instillation induced a dose-dependent increase in IM in airway epithelium that was significantly increased (twofold) in rats that were also exposed to ozone. Expression of rMuc5AC was induced in axial pulmonary airways by 2 and 20 microg endotoxin, and was increased further by ozone-exposure in rats instilled with 20 microg endotoxin. These data demonstrate that ozone exposure potentiates neutrophilic inflammation and mucus production and secretion elicited by a biogenic substance in rat pulmonary airways.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Ethanol vapour-fixation of rat lung for immunocytochemistry investigations.

Ethanol-vapour fixation of rat lung has been successfully employed in the immunocytochemical detection of the gastrin mucin antigen termed mucin 5AC without the need of additional antigen retrieval steps. This procedure gives good morphological preservation and provides all the benefits associated with the microscopic examination of inflated lung tissue. This simple fixation technique provides another option for use in immunocytochemical investigations of rodent lung and could be adapted for other species.

Animals↗

[Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and MUC5AC on human airway with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) synthesis in human airways with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Lung specimens were obtained from 38 patients who were undergoing lobectomy, and the samples were taken from areas remote to the lesion. EGFR and MUC5AC protein expression were examined using immunohistochemical analysis and Western blot in peripheral airways (less than 2 mm in diameter) from 16 subjects with COPD, 10 subjects with a history of more than 30 pack-year smoking and 12 nonsmokers or exsmokers (0 - 10 pack-year smoker). RESULTS: Weak EGFR protein signals were detected in the lungs of the controls (2.01 +/- 1.02) in comparison with stronger signal in the COPD patients (4.62 +/- 1.65, P < 0.01) and the smokers (4.89 +/- 1.89, P < 0.01). EGFR immunoreactivity was observed mainly in goblet cells in the controls, the percentage of positive cell being 71.1% +/- 14.3%, which was higher than those in COPD (21.1% +/- 8.6%) or in the smoker (21.9% +/- 9.7%) airways. In contrast, COPD or smoker airways showed more expression of EGFR which expressed mainly in basal cells (42.9% +/- 14.2%, 52.1% +/- 13.5%, respectively) than that in the control airways (23.7% +/- 9.5%, P < 0.01). However there was no significant differences in EGFR expression and location in peripheral airways between COPD patients and smokers (P > 0.05). There was significant positive correlation between EGFR immunoreactivity and the area of the MUC5AC positive staining in all subjects (r = 0.877 4, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that EGFR activation is involved in mucin expression in COPD airways.

Aged↗

Multiple contributing roles for NOS2 in LPS-induced acute airway inflammation in mice.

Acute lung inflammation and injury were induced by intranasal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in normal and type 2 nitric oxide synthase (NOS2)-deficient (NOS2-/-) C57BL/6 mice. LPS-induced increases in extravasated airway neutrophils and in lung lavage fluid of TNF-alpha and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 were markedly lower in NOS2-/- than in wild-type mice, indicating that NOS2-derived nitric oxide (NO.) participates in inflammatory cytokine production and neutrophil recruitment. Instillation of LPS also increased total lung lavage protein and induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 and mucin 5AC, as indexes of lung epithelial injury and/or mucus hyperplasia, and increased tyrosine nitration of lung lavage proteins, a marker of oxidative injury. All these responses were less pronounced in NOS2-/- than in wild-type mice. Inhibition of NOS activity also suppressed production of TNF-alpha and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 by LPS-stimulated mouse alveolar MH-S macrophages, and this was restored by NO. donors, illustrating involvement of NO. in macrophage cytokine signaling. Oligonucleotide microarray (GeneChip) analysis of global lung gene expression revealed that LPS inhalation induced a range of transcripts encoding proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, stress-inducible factors, and other extracellular factors and suppressed mRNAs encoding certain cytoskeletal proteins and signaling proteins, responses that were generally attenuated in NOS2-/- mice. Comparison of both mouse strains revealed altered expression of several cytoskeletal proteins, cell surface proteins, and signaling proteins in NOS2-/- mice, changes that may partly explain the reduced responsiveness to LPS. Collectively, our results suggest that NOS2 participates in the acute inflammatory response to LPS by multiple mechanisms: involvement in proinflammatory cytokine signaling and alteration of the expression of various genes that affect inflammatory-immune responses to LPS.

Acute Disease↗

Neutrophil-dependent and neutrophil-independent alterations in the nasal epithelium of ozone-exposed rats.

Ozone induces epithelial hyperplasia and mucous cell metaplasia (MCM) in nasal transitional epithelium (NTE) of rats. A transient neutrophil influx accompanies upregulation of mucin messenger RNA (mRNA) before the onset of MCM. The present study was designed to examine the role of neutrophils in ozone-induced epithelial changes in the NTE of rats. Fourteen hours before inhalation exposure, male F344/N rats were injected intraperitoneally with antirat neutrophil antiserum to deplete circulating neutrophils, or were injected with normal (control) serum. Rats were then exposed to 0 ppm (filtered air) or 0.5 ppm ozone (8 h/d) for 1 or 3 d. Maxilloturbinates lined with NTE were analyzed to determine the epithelial labeling index; numeric densities of neutrophils, total epithelial cells, and mucous secretory cells; amount of stored intraepithelial mucosubstances; and steady-state ratMUC-5AC (mucin) mRNA levels. At 2 h after 3 d of exposure, rats treated with antiserum had 90% fewer circulating neutrophils than did rats treated with control serum. Antiserum-treated, ozone-exposed rats had 87% fewer infiltrating neutrophils than did control serum-treated, ozone-exposed rats. At 4 d after 3 d of exposure, antiserum-treated, ozone-exposed rats had 66% less stored intraepithelial mucosubstances and 58% fewer mucous cells in their NTE than did control serum-treated, ozone-exposed rats. Antiserum treatment had no effects on ozone-induced epithelial cell proliferation or mucin mRNA upregulation. The results of this study indicated that ozone-induced MCM was neutrophil-dependent, whereas ozone-induced epithelial cell proliferation and mucin gene upregulation were neutrophil-independent.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical staining in the diagnosis of pancreatobiliary and ampulla of Vater adenocarcinoma: application of CDX2, CK17, MUC1, and MUC2.

Pancreatobiliary and ampulla of Vater adenocarcinomas frequently metastasize to regional lymph nodes, liver, or lung and are difficult to diagnose because they lack specific immunohistochemical markers. We studied the expression of cytokeratin 7 (CK7), cytokeratin 17 (CK17), cytokeratin 20 (CK20), CDX2, mucin 1 (MUC1), mucin 2 (MUC2), and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) in 46 cases of pancreatic ductal carcinoma, 18 ampulla of Vater adenocarcinomas, and 24 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. The expression of MUC1 and CK17 was restricted to pancreatic ductal carcinoma (41 of 46, 89%; 38 of 46, 83%, respectively), the ampullary carcinoma of pancreatobiliary origin (6 of 6, 100%; 5 of 6, 83%, respectively), and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (20 of 24, 83%; 17 of 24, 71%, respectively). More than 50% of cases of pancreatobiliary adenocarcinomas showed diffuse cytoplasmic CK17 positivity. In contrast, less than 5% cases (8 of 184) of extra-pancreatobiliary nonmucinous adenocarcinomas expressed CK17, and only 3 of them showed diffuse CK17 positivity. The expression of MUC2 and CDX2 was restricted to the intestinal, mucinous, and signet-ring cell-type adenocarcinomas of duodenal papillary origin (9 of 11, 82%; 11 of 11, 100%, respectively). MUC2 was rarely expressed in pancreatic ductal carcinoma (1 of 46, 2%) and was negative in the ampullary carcinoma of pancreatobiliary origin and in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. A heterogeneous CDX2 staining pattern was seen in 1 of 6 cases of the ampullary carcinoma of pancreatobiliary origin (17%), 5 of 24 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (21%), and 10 of 46 (22%) pancreatic ductal carcinomas. In contrast, all 11 cases of the intestinal, mucinous, and signet-ring cell-type adenocarcinomas of duodenal papillary origin showed homogeneous CDX2 nuclear positivity. We concluded that CK17 is a useful marker in separating pancreatobiliary adenocarcinomas from extra-pancreatobiliary nonmucinous adenocarcinomas, including adenocarcinomas from the colon, breast, gynecologic organs, stomach, lung, prostate, thyroid, kidney, and adrenal gland, and malignant mesothelioma. MUC1+/CK17+ can be used as positive markers for pancreatic ductal carcinomas, the ampullary carcinoma of pancreatobiliary origin, and cholangiocarcinomas with positive predictive values of 76%, 83%, and 58%, respectively. MUC2+/CDX2+ can be used as positive markers for the intestinal-type adenocarcinoma of duodenal papillary origin with a positive predictive value of 82%.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Immunohistochemical study of MUC5AC expression in human gastric carcinomas using a novel monoclonal antibody.

In order to investigate the expression of MUC5AC mucin in normal gastric mucosa and gastric carcinomas, we produced 3 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) using a MUC5AC synthetic peptide. The immunohistochemical study was performed using one of these MAbs (CLH2) which reacted with the different designs of peptides based on the MUC5AC tandem repeat and with native and deglycosylated mucin extracted from gastric tissues. CLH2 immunoreactivity was restricted to foveolar and mucopeptic neck cells in normal gastric mucosa. No reactivity was observed in type-I intestinal metaplasia. Out of 66 gastric carcinomas, 42 (63.6%) expressed MUC5AC. Most diffuse carcinomas were positive (83.3%), whereas only 59.3% of intestinal and 40.0% of atypical carcinomas expressed MUC5AC (p < 0.05). Gastric carcinomas with mixed pattern showed immunoreactivity in diffuse areas and decreased immunoreactivity in intestinal areas. Every early gastric carcinoma expressed MUC5AC, in contrast to 58.6% of advanced carcinomas (p < 0.05). A trend toward decreased immunoreactivity was observed in deep areas of advanced carcinomas in comparison with the respective superficial areas. Taking together the specific staining of foveolar and mucopeptic neck cells and the absence of immunoreactivity in intestinal metaplasia, we conclude that MUC5AC expression may be used as a marker of gastric differentiation. This assumption is further supported by the finding of MUC5AC immunoreactivity in most diffuse carcinomas, which usually display morphologic and histochemical signs of gastric differentiation. The expression of MUC5AC in early gastric carcinomas, regardless of their histologic type, suggests that all gastric carcinomas retain at least some cells with a gastric phenotype during the first steps of neoplastic development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Gastric M1 mucin, an early oncofetal marker of colon carcinogenesis, is encoded by the MUC5AC gene.

Gastric M1 mucin and the MUC5AC gene show a similar oncofetal expression in the colon. Our aim was to determine whether M1 mucin is the product of the MUC5AC gene. A recombinant baculovirus encoding the C-terminal portion of the MUC5AC gene as a fusion protein was isolated and the immunoreactivity of the recombinant mucin (rM) toward M1 antibodies studied. Chicken antibodies also were raised against purified rM. Besides its reactivity with L56/C, a serum recognizing the bacterially expressed MUC5AC gene product, rM was endowed with M1 immunoreactivity: (i) rM-expressing cells were stained specifically with anti-M1 serum and with the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 21M1, defining the M1-f epitope; (ii) both L56/C and anti-M1 antibodies recognized the same bands in immunoblots of rM-containing cell extracts; (iii) the 21M1 antibody reacted with rM in an immunoradiometric assay. Among the 7 M1 epitopes, M1-f was the only one encoded by the 3' portion of the MUC5AC gene. It was the only epitope detected in a native mucin M1-derived 170 kDa bromelain proteolytic fragment. Furthermore, the staining patterns of human tissues obtained with either anti-rM chicken antibodies or anti-M1 antibodies were identical. We conclude that M1 immunoreactivity is encoded at least in part by the MUC5AC gene.

Animals↗

Aberrant expression of MUC5AC and MUC6 gastric mucin genes in colorectal polyps.

Altered mucin glycosylation and the de novo appearance of gastric mucin antigens have been described in colonic adenomas. The purpose of our study was to determine if expression of the gastric mucin genes MUC5AC and MUC6 occurs in colorectal adenomas and whether this correlates with histopathologic criteria of malignant potential. Immunohistochemical staining using antibodies against MUC5AC and MUC6 tandem repeat synthetic peptides was performed on specimens of normal colon mucosa (n = 26), hyperplastic polyps (n = 9) and adenomatous polyps (n = 111). Mucin mRNA levels were determined using RNase protection assays using riboprobes corresponding to unique non-repetitive sequences. MUC5AC and MUC6 staining were rarely detected and of low intensity in normal colon and hyperplastic polyps. The number of immunoreactive polyps and intensity of MUC5AC and MUC6 staining were greatest in larger adenomas of moderate villous histology and dysplasia. MUC5AC and MUC6 staining tended to decrease in highly villous polyps with severe dysplasia. Increased MUC5AC mRNA levels were found in 26/45 of adenomas tested compared with 0/9 normal colon specimens. MUC6 mRNA levels were found in 20/45 of adenomas compared with 1/9 normal colon specimens. MUC5AC and MUC6 mRNA were present more frequently and at higher levels in polyps with intermediate stages of size, villous histology and dysplasia. We conclude that aberrant expression of MUC5AC and MUC6 mucin genes is likely responsible for an expanded repertoire of mucin antigen expression in colorectal neoplasia.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗

From normal respiratory mucosa to epidermoid carcinoma: expression of human mucin genes.

Mucous cells in the respiratory tract contribute to the maintenance of the normal epithelial cell population via mechanisms of cell proliferation and differentiation. Mucous cell hyperplasia often occurs as a basic response to injury in the tracheobronchial epithelium. These cells are also thought to be involved in the histogenesis of epidermoid metaplasia. A typical biochemical feature of these cells is mucus secretion. Aberrant glycosylation or under-glycosylation of mucins is well known in cancer; however, the specific role played by mucin genes is at present unclear. To provide information regarding the expression of these genes in squamous metaplasia and squamous cell carcinoma, we analyzed and compared the expression of MUC1-MUC7 genes by in situ hybridization in control respiratory mucosa and lesions associated with neoplasia (hyperplasia, metaplasia and dysplasia) and squamous cell carcinomas. MUC4 was expressed independently of mucus secretion since it was expressed weakly by basal cells and probably by ciliated cells as well as collecting ducts, epidermoid metaplasia with complete squamous cell differentiation, and most of epidermoid carcinomas even well differentiated and keratinized. In squamous metaplasia and dysplasia, MUC4 gene expression was diffuse and less intense than in normal epithelium. MUC5AC was overexpressed in dysplasia as well as in mucous cell and basal cell hyperplasia and undetectable when squamous differentiation was achieved.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Prognostic value of serum MUC5AC mucin in patients with cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The authors recently showed that MUC5AC mucin, which is expressed aberrantly in tumor tissue, is present in significant concentrations in serum from patients with cholangiocarcinoma. Subsequently, determination of serum MUC5AC had high sensitivity and specificity for cholangiocarcinoma. In this study, the possible association between serum MUC5AC mucin and the clinical findings of the patients and their prognostic value were explored. METHODS: The expression of MUC5AC mucin in serum samples from 179 patients with histologically confirmed cholangiocarcinoma were determined using immunoblotting. RESULTS: Detection of serum MUC5AC was associated with patients with blood group Type A, larger-sized tumors (> 5 cm), and advanced-stage disease. Patients who had positive serum MUC5AC status had a significantly poorer prognosis (median survival, 127 days; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 107-180 days) compared with patients who had negative serum MUC5AC status (median survival, 329 days; 95% CI, 199-458 days; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis with adjustment for all covariates showed that patients who had positive serum MUC5AC status had a 2.5-fold higher risk of death compared with patients who had negative serum MUC5AC status (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Serum MUC5AC was associated with tumor burden. The determination of serum MUC5AC may be predictive of poor patient outcome and may be useful in selecting possible treatment options for patients with cholangiocarcinoma. Cancer 2003;98:1438-43.

Adult↗

Biliary papillary tumors share pathological features with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas.

Recently, attention has been drawn to papillary neoplasm of the pancreatobiliary systems. In the pancreas, the disease entity of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN-P) is widely recognized. In contrast, the pathological characteristics of biliary papillary tumors, such as biliary papilloma(tosis) and papillary cholangiocarcinoma, have not yet been well documented. In this study, we compared the pathological features and post-operative prognosis among biliary papillary tumors (10 cases of biliary papilloma(tosis) and 22 cases of papillary cholangiocarcinoma), conventional non-papillary cholangiocarcinoma (15 cases), and IPMN-P (31 cases). Macroscopically, all biliary papillary tumors were characterized by the prominent intraductal papillary proliferation, and macroscopic mucin-hypersecretion was seen in 9 of 32 cases (28%). Histologically, biliary papillary tumors consisted of three types of tumor cells (pancreaticobiliary, intestinal and gastric types), whereas only the pancreaticobiliary type was observed in non-papillary cholangiocarcinoma. Immunohistochemically, biliary papillary tumors were characterized by the common expression of MUC2, CDX2 and cytokeratin 20. In addition, biliary papillary tumors could be associated with two types of invasive lesions: tubular adenocarcinoma (9 cases) and mucinous carcinoma (5 cases). Patients with tubular adenocarcinoma had a poor prognosis compared to non-invasive papillary tumor or papillary tumor with mucinous carcinoma. These pathological characteristics and the survival status of biliary papillary tumors were different from those of non-papillary cholangiocarcinoma, and rather closely resembled those of IPMN-P. In conclusion, biliary papillary tumors may be the biliary counterpart (intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct) of IPMN-P.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Mapping of two new epitopes on the apomucin encoded by MUC5AC gene: expression in normal GI tract and colon tumors.

Three hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against human (62M MAb) or rat (463M and 589M MAbs) gastric mucins were isolated. These MAbs immunoreacted against a human recombinant protein encoded by the 3' region of the MUC5AC gene. We have mapped 2 new gastric mucin epitopes and the M1-f epitope previously characterized by the 19/21M1 MAbs on MUC5AC-encoded apomucin. The M1-f, 463/589M and 62M epitopes are located in the MUC11p15/von Willebrand factor (vWF)-A3uD4 domain, in the D4-(vWF)-like domain and in the C- and CK-vWF-like domains of MUC5AC, respectively. The 463/589M and 62M MAbs stained the surface epithelium of human gastric mucosae, but not the normal colon mucosae (except 463/589M MAbs, which immunoreacted with 5 of 49 cases). All hyperplastic polyps are stained strongly with the 463/589M MAbs and faintly with the 62M MAb. In addition, 463/589M epitope was detected in 64% of the adenomas and in 93% of the mucosae adjacent to adenocarcinomas; in contrast, only 9% of the adenomas and 29% of the mucosae adjacent to adenocarcinomas expressed the 62M epitope. The expression pattern of the 463/589M epitope in colonic carcinogenesis is different from that of the 19/21M1 epitope, although the 2 epitopes are encoded by MUC5AC gene.

Animals↗