RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Twisted gastrulation expression in cholangiocellular and hepatocellular carcinoma
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 945
OP 948
DO 10.1136/jclinpath-2011-200577
VO 65
IS 10
A1 Jolene Johnston
A1 Redha Al-Bahrani
A1 Yasser Abuetabh
A1 Brian Chiu
A1 Cynthia L Forsman
A1 Seishi Nagamori
A1 Roger Leng
A1 Anna Petryk
A1 Consolato Sergi
YR 2012
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/65/10/945.abstract
AB Aims To assess the expression of Twisted gastrulation (TWSG1) protein, which regulates the activity of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in the extracellular space in malignant epithelial tumours of the liver. Methods Thirteen hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples and 12 intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCA) samples were compiled into diagnosis-specific tissue microarrays. Sections were immunostained with a monoclonal antibody against TWSG1 and a polyclonal antibody against BMP4. Human cell lines were also used, including one HCC cell line (HepG2), three CCA cell lines (OZ, Huh-28, HuCCT-1) and a Papova-immortalised normal hepatocyte cell line (THLE-3) for western blot analysis (WBA). Results Immunostaining and WBA showed a stronger TWSG1 expression in CCA than in HCC. The difference in expression was significant (p<0.05), and the immunohistochemical signal was particularly evident in the malignant epithelial areas close to desmoplastic stroma in CCA and in the areas of glandular differentiation in HCC. No expression was seen in normal hepatocytes. Interestingly, BMP4 was fully expressed in CCA and only partly in HCC. WBA showed a band for BMP4 in both CCA and HCC cell lines. Conclusions TWSG1 is expressed in both malignant epithelial carcinomas, although the level of expression is higher in CCA than in HCC and seems to correlate at least partially with BMP4 expression.