Focal up-regulation of E-cadherin-catenin complex in inflamed bowel mucosa but reduced expression in ulcer-associated cell lineage.
The E-cadherin-catenin complex is important for the maintenance of epithelial architecture. We studied its expression in Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, acute ileitis, and controls. Immunohistochemical stainings for E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and gamma-catenin were performed. E-cadherin messenger RNA (mRNA) was detected using riboprobes. In active inflammation, there was up-regulation of the complex. In particular, epithelium adjacent to ulcers showed increased expression of protein and mRNA, but in ulcer-associated cell lineage, the intensity of staining was weak to negative. In focal inflammation, up-regulation was found in affected areas. Reparative epithelium growing over denuded areas showed weaker expression. Since structural or functional perturbation in any of the molecules of the E-cadherin-catenin complex results in loss of intercellular adhesion, the preexistent epithelium may benefit from up-regulation to try to maintain its normal architecture under inflammatory conditions. Reduced expression in reparative epithelium and ulcer-associated cell lineage could facilitate the motility of these cells.
Demetter
P
P
Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
De Vos
M
M
Van Damme
N
N
Baeten
D
D
Elewaut
D
D
Vermeulen
S
S
Mareel
M
M
Bullock
G
G
Mielants
H
H
Verbruggen
G
G
De Keyser
F
F
Veys
E M
EM
Cuvelier
C A
CA
D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007079:Ileitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014456:Ulcer / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015820:Cadherins; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger