Further studies support the participation of stem cells in the cell turnover of duodenal adenomas.
BACKGROUND
In the normal duodenal mucosa, differentiated cells (enterocytes, goblet cells and endocrine cells) migrate from stem cells to the tip of the villi, but the lysozyme-producing Paneth cells migrate to the bottom of the crypts. The position of the Paneth cells within duodenal adenomas was investigated.


METHODS
Sections from 83 duodenal adenomas were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and with anti-lysozyme. Mature Paneth cells were those showing coarse brightly red cytoplasmic granules in H&E stain whereas their precursors were the lysozyme-positive cells that were undetected by H&E.


RESULTS
The number of mature Paneth cells/high power field (x 40) varied in adenomas from 4 to 12 (mean 65) in H&E stain, while 32 to 62 cells/field (mean 46.5) were positive in anti-lysozyme immunostain (p < 0.05). The lysozyme-expressing cells were randomly distributed within the adenoma including the superficial cell layers.


CONCLUSIONS
Since mature Paneth cells and their precursors are positioned underneath stem cells, the presence of mature Paneth cells and their lysozyme-positive precursors in the surface epithelium of duodenal adenomas would imply that stem cells might have already exfoliated. An alternative explanation would mean that mutated stem cells, anchored in the bottom of the crypts of the adenoma would redirect, in an unparalleled fashion, the ontogenetic logistics of migration for Paneth cells. This stochastic molecular behaviour would require a reversal from the pre-determined migratory flow for Paneth cells to a paradoxical migration mode for these cells (from stem cells vertically along the villus, before exfoliation). Consequently, it is not inconceivable that stem cells might participate, together with other mature cells, in the cellular turnover of duodenal adenomas. If that is the case, the duodenal adenoma emerges as a suitable model to monitor the actual fate of mutated stem cells.
Rubio
Carlos A
CA
Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Karolinska Institute and University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden. Carlos.Rubio@onkpat.ki.se