High expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in macrophages of human colonic adenoma.
Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is a possible molecular target for suppression of colon carcinogenesis by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, the expression of COX-2 in human colonic tumors during the adenoma-carcinoma sequence has not been elucidated. In the present study, we examined immuno-histochemically the expression and localization of the COX-2 protein in human colonic adenomas and cancers. Twelve human colonic adenomas and 9 advanced cancers were studied. Immunoreactive COX-2 was predominantly and strongly expressed in sub-epithelial interstitial cells broadly present in the surface area of adenomas. The staining pattern of macrophages was similar to that observed for COX-2 in adenomas. Adjacent normal colonic mucosa was negative for COX-2 expression. In contrast, COX-2 was relatively weakly expressed in both tumor cells and interstitial cells in advanced colon cancers. In conclusion, the target of NSAIDs in preventing colon carcinogenesis may be the COX-2 expressed in interstitial cells, possibly macrophages, of colonic adenomas.
Bamba
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical School, Saitama, Japan. bam@saitama-med.ac.jp
Ota
S
S
Kato
A
A
Adachi
A
A
Itoyama
S
S
Matsuzaki
F
F
D000236:Adenoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human