Immunohistochemistry of gap junctions in normal and diseased gastric mucosa of humans.
OBJECTIVE
Intercellular communication through gap junctions has been proposed to be an important mechanism for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. However, few studies have considered the role of gap junctions in gastric mucosa. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of gap junction-specific proteins in normal and diseased gastric mucosa of humans.


METHODS
Biopsy specimens were obtained endoscopically. Immunohistochemical staining was performed by standard immunoperoxidase techniques using an anti-connexin 32 monoclonal antibody.


RESULTS
In normal gastric mucosa, connexin 32 was present chiefly in the foveolar cells and in a decreasing staining gradient extending down to the necks of the glands. Connexin 32 also was observed in the epithelial cells of atrophic mucosa in a pattern similar to that observed in normal controls. Conversely, the majority of the foveolar cells adjacent to erosions had reduced or absent staining. Connexin 32 also was reduced significantly or absent from metaplastic epithelial cells. No malignant cells from patients with carcinoma contained detectable connexin 32.


CONCLUSIONS
Intercellular communication likely is impaired in precancerous or paracancerous lesions of the stomach. Abnormal intercellular communication thus may play an important role in the progression from mucosal injury to intestinal metaplasia and/or gastric carcinoma.
Uchida
Y
Y
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa Medical School, Japan.
Matsuda
K
K
Sasahara
K
K
Kawabata
H
H
Nishioka
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017630:Connexins / Q000032:analysis*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000737:chemistry; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017630:Connexins; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein