Expression of putative stem cell genes Musashi-1 and beta1-integrin in human colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
Recent studies revealed that Musashi-1and beta1-integrin were putative stem cell genes. Overexpressions of Musashi-1 and beta1-integrin have been reported in some tumor tissues and cell lines. This study was to detect expressions of the two genes in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas and to analyze the correlation between Musashi-1 and beta1-integrin.


METHODS
Musashi-1 and beta1-integrin immunoreactivity was studied immunohistochemically in tissue microarray-based samples containing 69 colorectal adenocarcinomas, eight normal mucosa, and eight adenomas, and their messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level was detected by RT-PCR in resected specimens including the three types of tissue.


RESULTS
A percentage of 66.7% (46/69) and 59.2% (41/69) of colorectal adenocarcinomas were immunoreactive with Musashi-1 and beta1-integrin, respectively. The expressions of Musashi-1 and beta1-integrin protein were significantly higher in tissue samples of stage III than those of stage I-II (P = 0.0252; P = 0.0018, respectively). beta1-integrin expression was higher in group of adenocarcinomas than that of adenomas (P = 0.0276). Musashi-1 expression was closely correlated with beta1-integrin (rs = 0.631, P = 0.0001). Significant differences of Musashi-1 and beta1-integrin mRNA expression levels were found between the normal colorectal mucosa, adenoma, and adenocarcinoma tissues (P = 0.01; P = 0.03, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Musashi-1 and beta1-integrin may be involved in human colorectal tumor carcinogenesis and progression. Our observations also indicate the need for further investigations to test in vivo whether cells with these markers have stem cell properties.
Fan
Li-Fang
LF
Department of Pathology, Wuhan University, China.
Dong
Wei-Guo
WG
Jiang
Cong-Qing
CQ
Xia
Dong
D
Liao
Fei
F
Yu
Qiong-Fang
QF
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
D019012:Integrin beta1; C491297:MSI1 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins