Connexin43 Expression Increases in the Epithelium and Stroma along the Colonic Neoplastic Progression Pathway: Implications for Its Oncogenic Role

Connexins (Cxs) are critical for normal tissue development, differentiation, and cell proliferation. Normal expression and function of Cxs are considered to play a role in tumor suppression, but abnormal localization and abnormally increased expression of Cxs have been found in a variety of carcinom...

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Main Authors: Yusheng Han, Paul J. Zhang, Terina Chen, Sabrina W. Yum, Teresa Pasha, Emma E. Furth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Gastroenterology Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/561719
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author Yusheng Han
Paul J. Zhang
Terina Chen
Sabrina W. Yum
Teresa Pasha
Emma E. Furth
author_facet Yusheng Han
Paul J. Zhang
Terina Chen
Sabrina W. Yum
Teresa Pasha
Emma E. Furth
author_sort Yusheng Han
collection DOAJ
description Connexins (Cxs) are critical for normal tissue development, differentiation, and cell proliferation. Normal expression and function of Cxs are considered to play a role in tumor suppression, but abnormal localization and abnormally increased expression of Cxs have been found in a variety of carcinomas. Of the Cx family, Cx43 is a most prevalent member and has been known as a downstream target of β-catenin, a key component of Wnt signaling pathway. We evaluated the expression of Cx43 in the colonic neoplasia progression sequence with additional attention to the stromal component. Resections of 50 colonic adenocarcinomas were stained immunohistochemically for Cx43 on paraffin embedded sections. Cx43 cytoplasmic expression increased progressively in the colonic adenocarcinoma sequence in both the epithelial [normal (4±1), adenomatous (20±2), cancerous (124±10) (P<0.01)], and stromal [normal (19±1), cancerous (45±4) (P<0.01)] components. In the epithelial component, Cx43 was expressed lower in stage I adenocarcinomas (69±12) compared to stage III/IV (158±10, P<0.01). Additionally, Cx43 was relatively increased in the adenocarcinoma at the invasive tumor front in all stages. Cx43 may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of colon cancer via gap junction or other gap junction independent mechanisms such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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spelling doaj-art-c4b70c15ded941fe923b68fdf90de0692025-08-20T03:23:06ZengWileyGastroenterology Research and Practice1687-61211687-630X2011-01-01201110.1155/2011/561719561719Connexin43 Expression Increases in the Epithelium and Stroma along the Colonic Neoplastic Progression Pathway: Implications for Its Oncogenic RoleYusheng Han0Paul J. Zhang1Terina Chen2Sabrina W. Yum3Teresa Pasha4Emma E. Furth5Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USADepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4280, USADepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4280, USADivision of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Children Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USADepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4280, USADepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4280, USAConnexins (Cxs) are critical for normal tissue development, differentiation, and cell proliferation. Normal expression and function of Cxs are considered to play a role in tumor suppression, but abnormal localization and abnormally increased expression of Cxs have been found in a variety of carcinomas. Of the Cx family, Cx43 is a most prevalent member and has been known as a downstream target of β-catenin, a key component of Wnt signaling pathway. We evaluated the expression of Cx43 in the colonic neoplasia progression sequence with additional attention to the stromal component. Resections of 50 colonic adenocarcinomas were stained immunohistochemically for Cx43 on paraffin embedded sections. Cx43 cytoplasmic expression increased progressively in the colonic adenocarcinoma sequence in both the epithelial [normal (4±1), adenomatous (20±2), cancerous (124±10) (P<0.01)], and stromal [normal (19±1), cancerous (45±4) (P<0.01)] components. In the epithelial component, Cx43 was expressed lower in stage I adenocarcinomas (69±12) compared to stage III/IV (158±10, P<0.01). Additionally, Cx43 was relatively increased in the adenocarcinoma at the invasive tumor front in all stages. Cx43 may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of colon cancer via gap junction or other gap junction independent mechanisms such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/561719
spellingShingle Yusheng Han
Paul J. Zhang
Terina Chen
Sabrina W. Yum
Teresa Pasha
Emma E. Furth
Connexin43 Expression Increases in the Epithelium and Stroma along the Colonic Neoplastic Progression Pathway: Implications for Its Oncogenic Role
Gastroenterology Research and Practice
title Connexin43 Expression Increases in the Epithelium and Stroma along the Colonic Neoplastic Progression Pathway: Implications for Its Oncogenic Role
title_full Connexin43 Expression Increases in the Epithelium and Stroma along the Colonic Neoplastic Progression Pathway: Implications for Its Oncogenic Role
title_fullStr Connexin43 Expression Increases in the Epithelium and Stroma along the Colonic Neoplastic Progression Pathway: Implications for Its Oncogenic Role
title_full_unstemmed Connexin43 Expression Increases in the Epithelium and Stroma along the Colonic Neoplastic Progression Pathway: Implications for Its Oncogenic Role
title_short Connexin43 Expression Increases in the Epithelium and Stroma along the Colonic Neoplastic Progression Pathway: Implications for Its Oncogenic Role
title_sort connexin43 expression increases in the epithelium and stroma along the colonic neoplastic progression pathway implications for its oncogenic role
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/561719
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