title: Immunolocalization of nestin, mesothelin and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) in developing and adult serous membranes and mesotheliomas.
abstract: The spatial and temporal distribution of epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), mesothelin and nestin was immunohistochemically analyzed in developing and adult human serous membranes and mesotheliomas in order to detect possible differences in the course of mesenchymal to epithelial transformation, which is associated with differentiation of mesothelial cells during normal development and tumorigenesis. Pleura and pericardium developing from the visceral mesoderm gradually transform into mesothelial cells and connective tissue. EMA appeared in mesothelium of both serous membranes during the early fetal period, whereas during further development, EMA expression was retained only in the pericardial mesothelium. It increased in both pleural mesothelium and connective tissue. Mesothelin appeared first in pericardial submesothelial cells and later in surface mesothelium, while in pleura it was immediately localized in mesothelium. In adult serous membranes, EMA and mesothelin were predominantly expressed in mesothelium. Nestin never appeared in mesothelium, but in connective tissues and myocardial cells and subsequently decreased during development, apart from in the walls of blood vessels. Mesothelial cells in the two serous membranes developed in two separate developmental pathways. We speculate that submesothelial pericardial and mesothelial pleural cells might belong to a population of stem cells. In epithelioid mesotheliomas, 13% of cells expressed nestin, 39% EMA and 7% mesothelin.
authors: Department of Pathology, Cytology and Forensic Medicine, University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors: Josko
authors: J
authors: Petricevic
authors: Hrvoje
authors: H
authors: Punda
authors: Snjezana Mardesic
authors: SM
authors: Brakus
authors: Katarina
authors: K
authors: Vukojevic
authors: Danijela Kalibovic
authors: DK
authors: Govorko
authors: Darko
authors: D
authors: Alfirevic
authors: Ante
authors: A
authors: Kvesic
authors: Mirna
authors: M
authors: Saraga-Babic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D000090204:Mesothelin; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D064231:Nestin; D012704:Serous Membrane / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D018396:Mucin-1; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D000090204:Mesothelin