Cyclooxygenase 2 in gastric carcinoma is expressed in doublecortin- and CaM kinase-like-1-positive tuft cells.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

Doublecortin and CaM kinase-like-1 (DCAMKL1) is a marker of stem cells expressed predominantly in the crypt base in the intestine. However, DCAMKL1-positive cells have been shown to be differentiated tuft cells rather than quiescent progenitors. Tuft cells are the only epithelial cells that express cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) in the normal intestinal epithelium. We previously generated Cdx2-transgenic mice as model mice for intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma. In the current study, we investigated the association between COX-2 and DCAMKL1 in gastric carcinoma.

METHODS:

We examined the association between COX-2 and DCAMKL1 expression in gastric carcinomas in clinical samples (early gastric well-differentiated adenocarcinoma) and Cdx2-transgenic mice; and the DCAMKL1-transgenic mouse stomach using immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS:

The COX-2-expressing cells were scattered, not diffusely expressed, in gastric carcinomas from humans and Cdx2-transgenic mice. DCAMKL1-positive cells were also scattered in the gastric carcinomas, indicating that tuft cells could still be present in gastric carcinoma. COX-2 was expressed in DCAMKL1-positive tuft cells in Cdx2- and DCAMKL1-transgenic mouse stomachs, whereas the Sox9 transcription factor was ubiquitously expressed in gastric carcinomas, including COX-2-positive cells.

CONCLUSIONS:

COX-2 is expressed in DCAMKL1-expressing quiescent tuft cells in gastric carcinoma.

• Authors: Hiroyuki Mutoh, Miho Sashikawa, Hirotsugu Sakamoto, Tomoko Tateno
• Journal: Gut and liver (Gut Liver) Vol. 8 Issue 5 Pg. 508-18 (Sep 2014) ISSN: 2005-1212 [Electronic] Korea (South)
• PMID: 25228975 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• SOX9 Transcription Factor
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• DCLK1 protein, human
• Doublecortin-Like Kinases
• Dclk1 protein, mouse
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (metabolism)
• Animals
• Cyclooxygenase 2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Doublecortin-Like Kinases
• Epithelial Cells (metabolism)
• Gastric Mucosa (metabolism)
• Humans
• Intestinal Mucosa (cytology, enzymology, metabolism)
• Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases (genetics, metabolism)
• SOX9 Transcription Factor (genetics, metabolism)
• Stomach Neoplasms (enzymology, genetics)