[Expression of MUC3, MUC5AC, MUC6 and epidermal growth factor receptor in gallbladder epithelium according to gallstone composition].
OBJECTIVE
Gallbladder (GB) mucin is one of the key factors in the gallstone formation. However, there is little information about the diversity of mucin secretion according to the stone composition. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) functions in proliferation including mucin secreting goblet cell hyperplasia. We compared the expressions of MUC3, MUC5AC, MUC6 and EGFR in the GB epithelium with cholesterol gallstones (GB-chol) group and pigment gallstones (GB-pig group).


METHODS
GBs from elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy for the gallstone disease were studied. Stone composition was analyzed by the spectrophotometer. Immunohistochemical stain was performed using each monoclonal antibody. The percentage of stained proportion was scored by the NIH image program and the results were compared between both groups.


RESULTS
Total 20 patients were enrolled (10 patients with cholesterol gallstones, 10 patients with pigment gallstones). The percentages of stained proportion for MUC3, MUC5AC, and MUC6 were 42 +/- 27%, 31 +/- 15%, and 17 +/- 9%, respectively in GB-chol group and 32 +/- 22%, 33 +/- 23%, and 15 +/- 10%, respectively in GB-pig group (p>0.05). The expression of EGFR was 50% (5/10) in the GB-chol group and 80% (8/10) in the GB-pig group respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no difference in the expressions of MUC3, MUC5AC, and MUC6 between the two groups. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of EGFR in the gallstone formation.
Kim
Hyo Jung
HJ
Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University College of Medicine, Chunchon, Korea.
Kim
Jae Seon
JS
Kim
Kyoung Oh
KO
Park
Ki Ho
KH
Yim
Hyung Joon
HJ
Kim
Jin Yong
JY
Yeon
Jong Eun
JE
Park
Jong-Jae
JJ
Shim
Jae Jeong
JJ
Byun
Kwan Soo
KS
Bak
Young-Tae
YT
Lee
Chang Hong
CH
D001654:Bile Pigments / Q000032:analysis; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D055263:Mucin-3; D055272:Mucin-6; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis*
D001654:Bile Pigments; C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; C524734:MUC6 protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D055263:Mucin-3; D055272:Mucin-6; D009077:Mucins; D002784:Cholesterol; D066246:ErbB Receptors