Frequent nuclear expression of beta-catenin protein but rare beta-catenin mutation in pulmonary sclerosing haemangioma.
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary sclerosing haemangioma (PSH) is an uncommon tumour that is composed of glandular/papillary lining cells and polygonal cells. The biological behaviour of this tumour has been investigated; however, the molecular pathogenesis of PSH remains unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To characterise the role of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in the genesis of PSH.


METHODS
37 PSH samples were investigated immunohistochemically for detection of the beta-catenin protein and direct sequencing of exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene.


RESULTS
Nuclear expression of beta-catenin was found in the lining component of 23 tumours (62%) and in the polygonal component of 11 tumours (30%). The expression of beta-catenin was stronger in the lining component, but weaker in the polygonal component. Interestingly, all the tumours with expression of beta-catenin in the polygonal component also expressed beta-catenin in the lining component. However, mutation of exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene was detected in only one tumour that expressed nuclear beta-catenin in lining and polygonal components.


CONCLUSIONS
The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is involved in the genesis of PSH, but mutation of exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene rarely contributes to the activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in PSH.
Chiang
P-M
PM
Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yuan
R-H
RH
Hsu
H-C
HC
Mao
T-L
TL
Hu
R-H
RH
Lai
P-L
PL
Jeng
Y-M
YM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D003062:Codon; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D047868:Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
D003062:Codon; D017931:DNA Primers; D051176:beta Catenin