title: Expression profile and potential roles of EVA1A in normal and neoplastic pancreatic tissues.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  EVA1A (eva-1 homolog A) is a novel gene that regulates programmed cell death through autophagy and apoptosis. Our objective was to investigate the expression profiles and potential role of EVA1A in normal and neoplastic human pancreatic tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression pattern of EVA1A in normal pancreatic tissue was examined by indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Protein levels in paraffin-embedded specimens from normal and diseased pancreatic and matched non-tumor tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EVA1A colocalized with glucagon but not with insulin, demonstrating production in islet alpha cells. Itwas strongly expressed in chronic pancreatitis, moderately or weakly expressed in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm in pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma, and absent in normal pancreatic acinar cells. Although the tissue architecture was deformed, EVA1A was absent in the alpha cells of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, mucinous cystadenomas, solid papillary tumors and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EVA1A protein is specifically expressed in islet alpha cells, suggesting it may play an important role in regulating alpha-cell function. The ectopic expression of EVA1A in pancreatic neoplasms may contribute to their pathogenesis and warrants further investigation.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China E-mail xiudianrong@126.com; yingyu_chen@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Tao
authors: Xue-Ying
authors: XY
authors: Shi
authors: Chun-Hui
authors: CH
authors: Yuan
authors: Jia
authors: J
authors: Hu
authors: Zhao-Lai
authors: ZL
authors: Ma
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Jiang
authors: Dian-Rong
authors: DR
authors: Xiu
authors: Ying-Yu
authors: YY
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D061354:Acinar Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D001343:Autophagy / Q000235:genetics; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D018267:Carcinoma, Acinar Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000473:pathology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C524094:EVA1A protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins