Expression of reg I alpha protein in human gastric cancers.
OBJECTIVE
Although regenerating gene(Reg) I alpha protein has a trophic effect on gastric epithelial cells, it is unclear whether Reg I alpha protein and its receptor are involved in gastric carcinogenesis. Therefore, we investigated the Reg I alpha protein expression in human gastric cancers and assessed its relationship to clinicopathological factors.


METHODS
Sixty-one gastric cancer specimens were examined, using immunohistochemistry, for Reg I alpha protein, p53, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The expression of both Reg I alpha and Reg receptor mRNA was examined in seven human gastric cancer cell lines (MKN1, MKN28, MKN45, MKN74, KATOIII, GCIY, and AGS) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot analysis.


RESULTS
Twenty-three (37.7%) of the 61 gastric cancer tissues samples were positive for Reg I alpha protein. The Reg I alpha expression was significantly related to the presence of lymphatic invasion but not to tumor size, tumor stage, Lauren's classification, presence of venous invasion, lymph node metastases, or p53 overexpression. Gastric cancers positive for Reg I alpha protein showed a significantly higher proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index than negative ones. The expression of both Reg I alpha and Reg receptor mRNA was detected in all seven gastric cancer cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
Reg I alpha protein may play a role in the development of gastric cancers.
Fukui
Hirokazu
H
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo Kyoto, Japan. hfukui@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Fujii
Shigehiko
S
Takeda
Jun
J
Kayahara
Takahisa
T
Sekikawa
Akira
A
Nanakin
Apichart
A
Suzuki
Katsumasa
K
Hisatsune
Hiroshi
H
Seno
Hiroshi
H
Sawada
Mitsutaka
M
Fujimori
Takahiro
T
Chiba
Tsutomu
T
D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051847:Lithostathine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010189:Pancreatic Juice; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D006023:Glycoproteins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D051847:Lithostathine; D011498:Protein Precursors; C497617:REG1A protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C469954:Reg receptor, human