Connexin 26 correlates with Bcl-xL and Bax proteins expression in colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate of Cx26 in correlation with Bcl-xL and Bax proteins in colorectal cancer.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining using specific antibodies was performed to evaluate the protein expression of Cx26, Bax and Bcl-xL in 152 colorectal cancer samples and the correlations among studied proteins as well as the relationships between the expression of Cx26, Bax, Bcl-xL and clinicopathological features were analyzed.


RESULTS
Both normal epithelial cells and carcinoma cells expressed Cx26, Bax and Bcl-xL, but Cx26 in cancer cells showed aberrant, mainly cytoplasmic staining. Expression of Cx26, Bax and Bcl-xL was observed in 55.9%, 55.5% and 72.4% of evaluated colorectal cancers respectively. We found the positive correlation between Cx26 and Bax expression (r = 0.561, P<0.0001), Cx26 and Bcl-xL (r = 0.409, P<0.0001) as well as between Bax and Bcl-xL (r = 0.486, P<0.0001). Association of Cx26, Bax and Bcl-xL expression with histological G2 grade of tumors was noted (P<0.005, P<0.001 and P<0.002 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Cytoplasmic presence of Cx26 and its association with apoptotic markers could indicate a distinct role from physiological functions of Cx26 in cancer cells and it could suggest that connexins might be a target point for modulations of apoptosis with therapeutic implications.
Kanczuga-Koda
Luiza
L
Department of Pathology, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona 13, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland.
Sulkowski
Stanislaw
S
Koda
Mariusz
M
Skrzydlewska
Elzbieta
E
Sulkowska
Mariola
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000072259:Connexin 26; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
C494826:BAX protein, human; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D017630:Connexins; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D000072259:Connexin 26