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EXPRESSION OF THE INTESTINE SPECIFIC TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR CDX2 IN INTESTINAL METAPLASIA OF FURAN‐TREATED RAT LIVER
Author(s) -
Yerkovich ST,
De Boer B,
Sirica AE,
Yeoh GCT,
James RJ,
Ee HC
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2001.ca01-43.x
Subject(s) - cdx2 , intestinal metaplasia , immunohistochemistry , staining , adenocarcinoma , pathology , intestinal epithelium , immunostaining , mucin , biology , transcription factor , medicine , epithelium , homeobox , cancer , biochemistry , gene , dysplasia
Objectives cdx2 is a homeodomain transcription factor exclusively expressed in intestinal epithelium and has been shown to regulate transcription of several intestine specific genes. The aim of this study was to investigate its expression in abnormal gastrointestinal differentiation, such as the development of intestinal metaplasia and subsequent ‘intestinal‐type’ adenocarcinoma in the liver of furan‐treated rats. Methods Immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue sections from furan‐treated rat livers and transplanted ‘intestinal‐type’ hepatic adenocarcinoma by using a polyclonal antibody against cdx2. Results Strong cdx2 immunoreactivity was seen in intestinal metaplastic foci, in which Alcian blue staining for mucin confirmed the presence of goblet cells. In contrast, regenerating ducts without intestinal features were negative for cdx2 immunoreactivity and Alcian blue staining. Transplanted tumours from furan‐derived hepatic adenocarcinomas were weakly positive for cdx2 and Alcian blue staining demonstrated scanty goblet cells. Conclusion The strong association between cdx2 expression and intestinal morphology in furan‐treated rat liver suggests that cdx2 plays an important role in the differentiation towards an intestinal phenotype.