title: Expression pattern of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein C/EBP-beta in gestational trophoblastic disease.
abstract: The CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) family consists of several factors that are important regulators of intracellular processes and hormone action. C/EBP-beta, the most important member of the C/EBP family, was shown recently to be expressed in the normal human placenta where it is localized in villous syncytiotrophoblast and in the extravillous (intermediate) trophoblast but not the villous cytotrophoblast. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of C/EBP-beta in gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) which has not been studied so far. We used immunohistochemistry on a total of 15 cases of GTD including nine complete hydatidiform moles, one placental site nodule (PSN), one placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT), and four choriocarcinomas. All our tested specimens showed positivity for C/EBP-beta. The strongest C/EBP-beta expression could be observed in villous syncytiotrophoblast and in the trophoblast proliferations on the villous surface of hydatidiform moles; villous cytotrophoblast was negative. The PSN also showed positive nuclear staining but the expression was not as strong as it was in the hydatidiform moles and the total amount of stained cells was the lowest of all GTD. The PSTT also showed immunoreactivity but with a weaker and more heterogeneous staining than in the choriocarcinomas. The specific expression pattern of C/EBP-beta in GTD indicate that C/EBP-beta could potentially be an additional marker of such lesions.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Gynecopathology, Institute of Pathology, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. jradde@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radde
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Löning
authors.forename: Ana-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bamberger
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014328:Trophoblastic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors