Potential role of aquaporin 3 in gastric intestinal metaplasia.
Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is a pre-cancerous condition and a pivotal step in the formation of gastric cancer (GC). Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) has been found to be expressed in goblet cells rather than mucus-secreting glands. To investigate the characteristics of GIM in non-cancerous tissues adjacent to GC, as well as the expression and role of AQP3 in GIM tissues, 16 patients diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma of intestinal type located in the lesser curve of the antrum were consecutively enrolled in this study. A new pathological technology called "gastric mucosal sausage roll" was introduced. GIM was determined according to the updated Sydney system, and AQP3 expression in goblet cells was determined by immunohistochemistry. GIM was found in all stomach specimens, and its incidence increased with progression to GC (P < 0.001). GIM prevalence displayed remarkable association with the distance to GC in the anterior gastric wall tissues (P = 0.016) and tissues toward the cardia (P = 0.014), such that GIM was more common in the areas closer to GC (P < 0.001). AQP3 was found to be expressed in 67.71% of parts with GIM, and AQP3 immunoreactivity was identified more frequently in severe GIM areas (P < 0.001). In short, the incidence and severity of GIM correlated with the distance from GC, and AQP3 was differentially expressed in goblet cells, with most AQP3-positive goblet cells presenting in severe GIM. Together, this study suggests that AQP3 may play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis from GIM.
Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China.|Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Huai'an Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical College, Second People's Hospital of Huai'an City, Huai'an 223002, Jiangsu, China.
Haijian
H
Zhao
Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu, China.
Xiaojun
X
Yang
Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China.|Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Mingde Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China.
Yangchun
Y
Zhou
Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China.
Weiming
W
Zhang
Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China.
Yao
Y
Wang
Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China.
Jianfei
J
Wen
Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China.
Zhihong
Z
Zhang
Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China.
Lizong
L
Shen
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051400:Aquaporin 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
C496027:AQP3 protein, human; D051400:Aquaporin 3
aquaporin 3; gastric cancer; gastric intestinal metaplasia; pathology