Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) stimulates secretion of
monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) from gastric mucosa.
Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression and macrophage infiltration are recognized in human gastric
carcinoma. We have previously generated Cdx2-transgenic mice as model mice for intestinal
metaplasia. Both chronic H. pylori-associated
gastritis and Cdx2-transgenic mouse stomach develop intestinal
metaplasia and finally gastric
carcinoma. In this study we have directed our attention to MCP-1 expression in the intestinal metaplastic mucosa and the gastric
carcinoma of Cdx2-transgenic mouse stomach. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to determine MCP-1 and
transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1)
mRNA expression levels and single- or double-label immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the localization of MCP-1,
TGF-beta type I receptor, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA). We determined that MCP-1
mRNA dramatically increased in the intestinal metaplastic mucosa and the gastric
carcinoma of Cdx2-transgenic mouse stomach, compared with normal mouse stomach. Both MCP-1 and
TGF-beta type I receptor were co-expressed in the alphaSMA-positive myofibroblasts of intestinal metaplastic mucosa and gastric
carcinoma. Exogenous application of
TGF-beta1 increased MCP-1
mRNA expression levels in the intestinal metaplastic tissue. Furthermore,
TGF-beta1 was overexpressed and macrophage was strongly infiltrated in the gastric
carcinoma. In conclusion, MCP-1 expression, which was stimulated by
TGF-beta1, was recognized in the
TGF-beta type I receptor-expressing myofibroblasts of the intestinal metaplastic mucosa and the gastric
carcinoma of Cdx2-transgenic mouse stomach. The present results suggest that intestinal
metaplasia and gastric
carcinoma themselves induce MCP-1 expression independently of H. pylori
infection.