Trefoil peptides, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin expression in sporadic fundic gland polyps: further evidence toward the benign nature of these lesions.
Sporadic fundic gland polyps (FGP) are the most common type of gastric polyps and their pathogenesis is still unclear, although a beta-catenin gene mutation has been described. They are regarded as benign lesions but low-grade dysplasia has been observed, arising more debate on their potential progression to a malignant phenotype. We investigated in FGP the role of factors involved in cell integrity, proliferation, and intercellular adhesion: trefoil peptides (TFF1, TFF2), MIB1, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin. We selected randomly 24 patients with FGP, 24 with normal gastric mucosa and 12 with atrophic gastritis with diffuse intestinal metaplasia (IM-gastritis), all Helicobacter pylori negative. The expression of all factors was examined by immunohistochemistry. In polyps and normal mucosa, TFF1 is expressed only in foveolar compartment whereas in IM-gastritis the signal is reduced in all the compartments. TFF2 is expressed in polyps and normal mucosa, in proliferative and basal compartment, whereas in IM-gastritis the expression is reduced or absent. E-cadherin is expressed in the entire zone: with a medium signal in normal mucosa and polyps, and weaker in IM-gastritis. The beta-catenin's signal in normal mucosa and polyps is moderate-to-intense in proliferative and basal compartments, whereas in IM-gastritis signal is significantly reduced in all the compartments. MIB1 in normal mucosa and polyps is expressed only in proliferative compartment, whereas its expression is stronger in IM-gastritis and involves also basal compartment. In conclusion all the factors considered were normally expressed in FGP and this, especially considered against the findings in IM-gastritis, supports the benign nature of FGP.
D'Odorico
Anna
A
Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy. anna.dodorico@unipd.it
Cassaro
Mauro
M
Grillo
Sabina
S
Lazzari
Roberta
R
Buda
Andrea
A
Cardellini
Pietro
P
Sturniolo Giacomo
Carlo
C
Rugge
Massimo
M
D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011127:Polyps / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology*; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
D015820:Cadherins; D010455:Peptides; C000604007:TFF2 protein, human; D000071164:Trefoil Factor-2; D051176:beta Catenin