Cyclooxygenase-2 expression and cell proliferation are increased in MUC2-positive area of columnar-lined esophagus.
Columnar-lined esophagus is composed of intestinal type and gastric type epithelium. Only the specialized or intestinal type columnar epithelium is susceptible to the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES) in gastric-type and intestinal-type metaplasia in columnar-lined esophagus and compare these with cell proliferation. Biopsy specimens of 30 columnar-lined esophagus patients were collected, and immunohistochemistry was performed for secretory mucins (MUC2, MUC5AC), COX, mPGES and cell proliferation (Ki-67). The MUC2-positive area had higher COX-2 expression and cell proliferation than the MUC5AC-positive area. There was a close correlation between COX-2 expression and cell proliferation. In contrast, the expression of COX-1, mPGES-1 and -2 was similar between intestinal metaplasia and gastric metaplasia. In conclusion, intestinal-type columnar-lined esophagus possesses COX-2 expression and a higher proliferation potential, suggesting that esophageal adenocarcinoma may arise from specialized columnar-lined esophagus.
Jang
Tae Jung
TJ
Department of Pathology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Kyongbuk, Korea. taejung@mail.dongguk.ac.kr
Cho
Mee Yon
MY
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D055262:Mucin-2; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000071876:Prostaglandin-E Synthases; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; C524625:MUC2 protein, human; C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D055262:Mucin-2; D009077:Mucins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C000605862:PTGES protein, human; D000071876:Prostaglandin-E Synthases