title: Why is cyclooxygenase-2 expressed in neuroendocrine cells of the human alimentary tract?
abstract: During immunohistochemical studies of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) on human colon cancers, many strong COX-2-immunoreactive cells scattered in the bottom of the crypt of normal colon mucosa were unexpectedly noticed. COX-2-immunoreactive cells were morphologically very similar to neuroendocrine cells and were confirmed immunohistochemically to be positive for chromogranin A or serotonin. Moreover, COX-2-immunoreactive neuroendocrine cells were observed not only in the large intestine, but also in the stomach, duodenum and small intestine. The role of COX-2 expression in neuroendocrine cells of the human alimentary tract was speculated.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pathology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan. nakajima@news.sb.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kashiwabara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sano
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000378:metabolism; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism*; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012701:Serotonin; D010544:Peroxidases; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases