title: Localization of NTPDase1/CD39 in normal and transformed human pancreas.
abstract: Elevated levels of extracellular ATP have been observed in many tumors. We have localized NTPDase1/CD39, one of the principal extracellular nucleotide-hydrolyzing enzymes, in normal and cancerous human pancreas. NTPDase/E-ATPDase activity was demonstrated with an enzyme histochemical technique on cryosections of human pancreas. Acinar and duct epithelial cells were devoid of E-ATPDase activity in both normal and transformed tissue. Endothelial cells and smooth muscle around blood vessels and larger ducts showed strong activity. Nerves, connective tissue, and the beta-cells of the islets were also stained. In cancerous tissue this activity was diminished in the smooth muscle around the ducts and was absent from newly formed connective tissue. Immunostaining for CD39 supported these results but revealed the presence of inactive CD39 in the duct epithelial cells. We hypothesize that the significantly diminished activity of NTPDase1 in the tissues surrounding the ducts may be associated with the processes that lead to tumor formation in human pancreas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Research, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, PO Box 67, 1450 Budapest, Hungary. kittel@koki.hu
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kittel
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garrido
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Varga
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D001081:Apyrase; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000201:enzymology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D001081:Apyrase; C067869:CD39 antigen