title: Differential expression of the anterior gradient protein-2 is a conserved feature during morphogenesis and carcinogenesis of the biliary tree.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The anterior gradient protein-2 (AGR2) is overexpressed in numerous tumours such as breast, prostate or pancreas carcinomas and recently reported in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we further describe AGR2 expression patterns all along the adult and fetal biliary tree and in cholangiocarcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry using anti-AGR2 antibodies was performed in adult and fetal livers, gallbladders as well as cholangiocarcinomas and HCCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In adult and fetal liver, the tall epithelial cells covering the large bile ducts as well as gallbladder epithelial cells showed strong AGR2 staining. Hilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, and a subset of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, which displayed a morphological mucus-excreting feature, also displayed AGR2 expression. In contrast, AGR2 expression was not detected in typical HCCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that the differential expression of AGR2 is a phenotypic feature of the cholangiocytes covering different segments of the biliary tree. This pattern of expression is conserved during fetal and adult life, as well as during biliary carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Inserm U889, Université Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France. sebastien.lepreux@chu-bordeaux.fr
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lepreux
authors.forename: Paulette
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bioulac-Sage
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chevet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009088:Mucoproteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C502296:AGR2 protein, human; D009088:Mucoproteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D011506:Proteins