滿曉華 王偉 鄭建明 李兆申 高軍 龔燕芳
·論著·
β-連環蛋白在不同胰腺病變中的表達
滿曉華 王偉 鄭建明 李兆申 高軍 龔燕芳
目的檢測β-連環蛋白(β-catenin)在胰腺正常導管(NP)、胰腺上皮內瘤變(PanINs)、胰腺導管內乳頭狀黏液性腫瘤(IPMNs)及胰腺導管腺癌(PDAC)中的表達水平,分析其在胰腺癌發生過程中的作用。方法收集正常胰腺組織12例、IPMN 52例(IPMA 20例,IPMB 13例,IPMC 19例)、PanINs 118灶(PanIN-1 73灶,PanIN-2 29灶,PanIN-3 16灶)、PDAC 50例,采用免疫組化SP法檢測β-catenin在上述組織中的表達,并分析其在胰腺癌的表達與臨床病理特征及患者術后生存期的關系。結果NP中β-catenin主要表達于細胞膜,表達量為(4.38±2.11)分;PanINs、PDAC和IPMN的β-catenin 膜表達明顯降低或缺失,PanIN-1、PanIN-2、PanIN-3、PDAC、 IPMA 、IPMB 、IPMC的膜表達量分別為(5.22±2.21)、(2.24±2.31)、(1.44±1.37)、(2.71±2.08)、(4.85±2.28)、(4.15±2.51)、(2.68±2.75)分。PanIN-1的胞質表達率為12.3%(9/73),胞核表達率為0; PanIN-2為34.5%(10/29)和3.4%(1/29);PanIN-3為43.8%(7/16)和12.5%(2/16);PDAC為44.0%(22/50)和10.0%(5/50)。在由PanINs至PDAC的進展過程中β-catenin膜表達逐漸降低,而胞質、胞核異位表達率逐漸升高。β-catenin膜表達與腫瘤大小、神經浸潤、淋巴轉移有關(P<0.05);胞質異位表達率與腫瘤大小有關(P<0.05);胞核異位表達率與腫瘤的分化程度有關(P<0.01);胞膜、胞質表達均與患者的術后生存期顯著相關(P<0.05)。結論Wnt/β-catenin通路異常活化導致的β-catenin膜表達減弱及異位表達率增加是PDAC發生、發展的重要機制,并促進PDAC的惡性生長與轉移,β-catenin的表達與PDAC患者的預后相關。
胰腺導管腺癌; 胰腺上皮內瘤變; 導管內乳頭狀黏液性腫瘤; β-連環蛋白
β-連環蛋白(β-catenin)作為一種重要的細胞信號轉導分子和細胞間黏附分子,已經成為近年來腫瘤研究中的熱點,它既可介導Wnt信號通路參與調節細胞的增殖分化,也可通過構成E-cad/cat復合體參與維持細胞間黏附連接及細胞極性[1-5]。本研究檢測胰腺正常導管(normal pancreatic duct, NP)、胰腺上皮內瘤變(pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias, PanINs)、胰腺導管內乳頭狀黏液性腫瘤(intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, IPMNs)及胰腺導管腺癌(pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, PDAC)中β-catenin蛋白的表達,分析其變化規律,探討其在PDAC發病機制中的作用。
一、胰腺組織標本
收集2001年至2010年我院胰腺組織標本及臨床資料,包括正常胰腺12例、IPMN 52例。另從醫院病理科獲贈包含PDAC 50例的胰腺癌組織芯片1片和PanINs芯片3片,其中PanIN-1 73灶,PanIN-2 29灶,PanIN-3 16灶。
二、免疫組化染色(IHC)及評定標準
采用鼠抗人β-catenin單抗(MAB13291, R&D)行SP法免疫組化染色。根據細胞定位(胞膜、胞質、胞核)、染色強度和分布判斷。PanINs及IPMNs計數導管內細胞,胰腺癌觀察5~10個高倍視野(HPF)。結果判定:陽性細胞數<25%計1分,25%~50% 2分,50%~75% 3分,>75% 4分;無染色計0分,弱陽性1分,中等陽性2分,強陽性3分。兩分乘積為免疫組化評分(IHCS)。正常胰腺導管上皮細胞膜的強陽性和個別細胞的胞質弱陽性視為正常表達,其余均視為異常表達[6]。
三、統計學處理
采用SPSS13.0統計軟件。各病變組之間IHCS比較采用單因素方差分析;胞質、胞核異位表達率比較及其與臨床病理特征的相關性分析采用χ2檢驗;與患者生存期的關系采用Kaplan-Meier行longrank檢驗。P<0.05為差異具有統計學意義。
一、NP、PanINs、IPMNs和PDAC的β-catenin表達
β-catenin在正常胰腺腺泡、導管上皮和胰島細胞膜上呈均質的強陽性表達,個別細胞為胞質弱陽性染色,胰腺間質細胞不染色。PanINs、IPMNs和PDAC的β-catenin膜表達明顯減少或缺失,并可出現胞質和(或)胞核的異位染色(圖1)。各組β-catenin膜表達的IHCS分別為:NP(4.38±2.11)分,PanIN-1(5.22±2.21)分,PanIN-2(2.24±2.31)分,PanIN-3(1.44±1.37)分,PDAC(2.71±2.08)分,IPMA(4.85±2.28)分,IPMB(4.15±2.51)分,IPMC (2.68±2.75)分;胞質異位表達率為:NP 0,PanIN-112.3%(9/73),PanIN-2 34.5%(10/29),PanIN-3 43.8%(7/16),PDCA 44.0%(22/50),IPMA 25%(5/20),IPMB 30.8%(4/13),IPMC36.8%(7/19);胞核異位表達率為:NP 0,PanIN-1 0,PanIN-2 3.4%(1/29)、PanIN-3 12.5%(2/16),PDCA 10.0%(5/50),IPMA 5%(1/20),IPMB 15.4%(2/13),IPMC 15.8(3/19)。PanIN-2、PanIN-3、PDAC及IPMC的β-catenin膜表達均較NP組明顯降低(P值均<0.05);異位表達率均較NP組增加。而PanIN-2、PanIN-3與PDAC間及IPMNs各組間差異均無統計學意義。
二、胰腺癌β-catenin的表達與臨床病理特征及患者術后生存期的關系
PDAC的β-catenin膜表達與腫瘤大小、神經浸潤、淋巴轉移有關;胞質異位表達率與腫瘤大小有關;胞核異位表達率與腫瘤的分化程度有關(表1)。

圖1β-catenin在胰腺組織中的表達 a:NP;b:PanIN-1A;c:PanIN-1B;d:PanIN-2;e:PanIN-3;f:IPMA;g:IMPB;h:IPMC;i:PDAC;j:PDAC(HE a:×400,b~i:×200)

表1 胰腺癌β-catenin的表達與臨床病理特征的相關性分析
注:a:IHCS≥4分
β-catenin胞膜、胞質表達與患者的術后生存期顯著相關(圖2),β-catenin膜高表達患者的中位生存期為25個月(95% CI 18.371~31.629),顯著低于低表達患者18個月的中位生存期(95% CI14.624~21.376,P=0.018);胞質異位表達患者的中位生存期為14個月(95% CI 10.975~17.025),顯著低于無異位表達患者21個月的中位生存期(95% CI 17.624~24.376,P=0.039)。

圖2β-catenin膜表達(a)、胞質表達(b)、胞核表達(c)與患者術后生存期的關系
目前,關于β-catenin在胰腺癌發病機制中作用的報道并不完全一致。Al-Aynati等[6]報道,PanINs和PDAC均異常表達β-catenin。Qiao等[7]報道,β-catenin參與胰腺癌的發生,其胞膜表達減弱、胞質的異位表達均與胰腺癌的預后緊密相關。Lowy等[8]發現,β-catenin在胰腺癌細胞中表達下調而不是上調,β-catenin表達減少導致細胞間的連接被削弱進而促進腫瘤侵襲、轉移。而Heiser等[9]發現,上調β-catenin的表達可以促進胰腺腫瘤的形成,但腫瘤表型類似于實性假乳頭狀瘤(SPN);在誘導K-ras突變的基礎上,激活β-catenin反而抑制PanINs的形成。
本結果顯示,β-catenin蛋白膜表達在PanINs和IPMNs中隨病變級別升高而逐漸減弱,在PDAC中顯著降低,部分PDAC為陰性表達。同時,在PanIN-1、IPMA的導管上皮細胞開始出現β-catenin的胞質表達,表達率隨病變級別升高而升高;β-catenin的胞核表達最早出現于PanIN-2和IPMA,在高級別病變的表達率顯著升高,提示β-catenin膜表達缺失及胞質、胞核的異位表達在PDAC的發生中發揮了重要作用,這與在肝癌、結腸癌等惡性腫瘤中的研究結果相一致[10-12]。
本結果還顯示,胰腺癌組織β-catenin膜表達在瘤體積較大、發生神經浸潤與淋巴轉移腫瘤中明顯減少,表明β-catenin膜表達減少是導致PDAC惡性生長與轉移的重要因素。此外,β-catenin的胞質異位表達與腫瘤大小呈正相關;胞核表達與腫瘤的分化程度呈負相關,表明β-catenin的異位表達亦是腫瘤的惡性生長的重要因素。β-catenin的膜表達與胞質表達還與患者的術后生存期顯著相關,與Qiao等[7]的報道一致,提示β-catenin在PDAC預后判斷中具有一定價值。
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Expressionofβ-catenininPanINs,IPMNsandPDAC
MANXiao-hua,WANGWei,ZHENGJian-ming,LIZhao-shen,GAOJun,GONGYan-fang.
DepartmentofGastroenterology,ChanghaiHospital,SecondMilitaryMedicalUniversity,Shanghai200433,China
LIZhao-shen,Email:zhsli@81890.net
ObjectiveTo detect the expressions of β-catenin protein in different pancreatic tissues (NP, PanINs, IPMNs and PDAC) and evaluate its significance during the carcinogenesis of PDAC.MethodsThe expression of β-catenin protein in 12 samples of normal pancreatic tissues, 52 samples of IPMN (IPMA 20 foci, IPMB 13 foci, IPMC 19 foci), PanINs 118 foci (PanIN-1 73 foci, PanIN-2 29 foci, PanIN-3 16 foci), 50 cases of PDAC was determined by using immunohistochemistry. The correlation between β-catenin expression and clinicopathologic characteristics of PDAC was analyzed.Resultsβ-catenin was mainly expressed in cell membrane of NP, the quantity was 4.38±2.11; in PanINs, PDAC and IPMN, β-catenin membrane expression was significantly decreased or absent, the β-catenin membrane expressions of PanIN-1, PanIN-2, PanIN-3, PDAC, IPMA, IPMB, IPMC were 5.22±2.21, 2.24±2.31, 1.44±1.37, 2.71±2.08, 4.85±2.28, 4.15±2.51, 2.68±2.75. The cytoplasm expression of PanIN-1 was 12.3% (9/73), while the nuclear expression was 0; and the corresponding values were 34.5%(10/29) and 3.4%(1/29) in PanIN-2; 43.8%(7/16) and 12.5%(2/16) in PanIN-3; 44.0%(22/50) and 10.0%(5/50) in PDAC. The IHCS of β-catenin membrane expression decreased with the severe tissue atypia along the progressive multistage. The β-catenin membrane expression was significantly associated with tumor size, neural infiltration and lymphatic metastasis (P<0.05). Ectopic cytoplasm expression was significantly associated with tumor size (P<0.05). Ectopic nuclear expression was significantly associated with tumor differentiation (P<0.01). The membrane or ectopic cytoplasm expression of β-catenin was significantly associated with postoperative survival.ConclusionsAbnormal Wnt/β-catenin signal activation induces decreased β-catenin membrane expression and increased ectopic expression, which is an important mechanism of pathogenesis and development of PDAC, and promotes the growth and metastasis of PDAC. The expression of β-catenin was associated with postoperative survival.
共同第一作者:王偉
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias; Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms; β-catenin
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1674-1935.2012.01.009
重大國際合作項目(30910103911)
200433 上海,第二軍醫大學長海醫院消化內科(滿曉華、王偉、李兆申、高軍、龔燕芳),病理科(鄭建明)
李兆申,Email:zhsli@81890.net
2011-10-21)
(本文編輯:屠振興)