title: Reg IV is differently expressed in enteroendocrine cells of human small intestine and colon.
abstract: Reg IV is a 17 kD secreted C-type lectin physiologically found in selected enteroendocrine cells (EEC). It is thought be involved in the regulation of normal and pathological intestinal and/or neuroendocrine differentiation and proliferation but its ultimate functional role(s) is still unclear. We used immunostaining and compared the cellular expression of Reg IV with a panel of neuroendocrine markers in human GI-tract tissue samples. Reg IV showed cellular co-distribution with serotonin and chromogranin A in all parts of GI-tract. Co-localization of Reg IV with somatostatin was seen in colon and with substance P in ileum. Subpopulations of cells expressing Reg IV overlapped with EECs containing GLP-1, GLP-2, secretin, PYY, and ghrelin, depending on the anatomical localization of the samples. The results further underscore the high degree of diversity among EECs and suggest that Reg IV may be involved in the finetuning of functions exerted by the neuroendocrine cells in the GI-tract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute, Haartmaninkatu 3 (P.O. Box 21), FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Kukka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heiskala
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute, Haartmaninkatu 3 (P.O. Box 21), FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; HUSLAB, Haartmaninkatu 3 (P.O. Box 21), FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: leif.andersson@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Leif C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Andersson
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019858:Enteroendocrine Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; C428528:REG4 protein, human