Expression patterns of markers for type II pneumocytes in pulmonary sclerosing hemangiomas and fetal lung tissues.
BACKGROUND
Although the histogenesis of sclerosing hemangioma is currently not well understood, the tumor has been characterized by its 2 histologically different types of cells, namely, surface and polygonal cells.


OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the origin of these cells, we analyzed samples from 15 cases of sclerosing hemangioma and 15 specimens of fetal lung tissue.


METHODS
We immunostained specimens from 15 cases of sclerosing hemangioma and 15 samples of fetal lung tissue using antibodies against thyroid transcription factor 1, MUC1, Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen, and CD44v6, known as markers for type II pneumocytes, and a panel of antibodies against cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, synaptophysin, CD56, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor.


RESULTS
In fetal lung tissue, MUC1 and thyroid transcription factor 1 were expressed throughout all developmental stages of airway epithelium, whereas Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen and CD44v6 were expressed by type II pneumocytes of saccular and alveolar origin. Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen was expressed in the bronchial bud of the pseudoglandular stage. MUC1, thyroid transcription factor 1, and epithelial membrane antigen were observed in both surface and polygonal cells of sclerosing hemangioma. Only the surface cells in all cases of sclerosing hemangioma showed positivity for cytokeratin and CD44v6. Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen was expressed in the surface cells of 11 of 15 cases of sclerosing hemangioma. Epithelial membrane antigen was expressed in both types of tumor cells, whereas cytokeratin was not detected on polygonal cells, but was reactive with surface cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the 2 types of cells in sclerosing hemangioma may derive from a common precursor cell through divergent differentiation toward the type II pneumocyte during tumorigenesis.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of National Defense Scientific Investigation, Seoul, Korea.
Seong Ho
SH
Yoo
Kyeong Cheon
KC
Jung
Joo Hyun
JH
Kim
Sook Whan
SW
Sung
Jin-Haeng
JH
Chung
Young Soo
YS
Shim
Soong Deok
SD
Lee
Doo Hyun
DH
Chung
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D047868:Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; C112697:CD44v6 antigen; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins; C000614412:NKX2-1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C016467:Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen