In colon carcinogenesis, the cytoskeletal protein gelsolin is down-regulated during the transition from adenoma to carcinoma.
The actin-binding protein gelsolin is involved in cell motility via the regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and its expression is modified in several human cancers. However, the potential implication of this protein in colorectal carcinogenesis is debated. By using immunohistochemistry, we studied gelsolin expression in 69 cases of colon adenocarcinomas and in 72 lesions representative of the different stages of colonic tumorigenesis. In addition, we performed Northern blot analysis of gelsolin messenger RNA in 12 paired samples of human colon cancer and normal corresponding mucosa. Gelsolin protein and messenger RNA expressions were severely down-regulated in all adenocarcinomas tested. Moreover, gelsolin protein was down-regulated in a large proportion of high-grade adenomas (14/16) before the acquisition of invasive properties but in only a small proportion of low grade adenomas and serrated adenomas (2/30) and in none of the 9 cases of nonneoplastic hyperplastic polyps tested. Our results therefore demonstrate that gelsolin down-regulation is an early and almost constant event in colon carcinogenesis and is associated with the transition from adenoma to carcinoma.
Gay
Fabien
F
Inserm, U865, Lyon, F-69372, France.
Estornes
Yann
Y
Saurin
Jean-Christophe
JC
Joly-Pharaboz
Marie-Odile
MO
Friederich
Evelyne
E
Scoazec
Jean-Yves
JY
Abello
Jacques
J
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002452:Cell Count; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D003082:Colectomy; D003106:Colon / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D018260:Gelsolin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018260:Gelsolin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm