Expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin and p120ctn in so-called pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma

Abstract

所谓肺硬化性血管瘤（so-called pul monary sclerosing hemangioma,PSH）是一种迄今未能确定其组织来源及性质的少见肺部肿瘤,多年来一直是人们研究的热点。本研究通过检测E-cad-herin、β-catenin和p120ctn在PSH表面立方细胞和间质多角形细胞的免疫表型以探讨其组织来源。方法 采用S-P免疫组化法检测25例手术切除PSH标本及8例肺炎性假瘤标本的E-cadherin、β-catenin和p120ctn表达情况。结果 25例PSH的立方细胞中,三种上皮粘附分子E-cadherin、β-catenin和p120ctn均呈胞膜强阳性表达,β-catenin在胞膜强阳性表达的同时有胞质表达。而在多角形细胞中,E-cadherin表达缺失,β-catenin胞膜表达缺失伴部分胞质表达,p120ctn胞质表达为主伴少量胞膜表达;三种粘附分子在多角形细胞中的表达存在异质性。血管瘤样区的腔内衬细胞E-cadherin、β-catenin和p120ctn均呈胞质胞膜阳性表达。8例肺炎性假瘤中增生的Ⅱ型肺泡细胞E-cadherin、β-catenin和p120ctn表达与PSH中立方细胞的表达情况相同。结论 PSH中的立方细胞可能是增生的Ⅱ型肺泡细胞,而多角形细胞为肿瘤的实质细胞且缺乏分化成熟的上皮细胞所具有的E-cadherin/catenin复合体。血管瘤样区的腔内衬细胞是与立方细胞相同的上皮细胞而非血管内皮细胞。

Background and objective So-called pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma （PSH） is a rare kind of pulmonary tumor. Its histological origin and nature, which have become research hot spots for many years, are still uncertain. The aim of this study is to investigate the immunophenotype of cuboidal cells and polygonal cells through observing the expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin and p120ctn in cuboidal cells and polygonal cells of PSH. Methods Expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin and p120 ctn was detected in 25 cases of PSH samples and 8 cases of pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor samples by immunohistochemistry. Results Immunohistochemistry results showed that the surface cuboidal cells of PSH were strongly positive on membrane for E-cadherin, β-catenin and p120 ctn , with cytoplasmic positive expression of β-catenin. However,the polygonal cells were negative for E-cadherin, cytoplasmic positive for β-catenin and predominantly cytoplasmic positive and weakly membranous positive for p120ctn . In polygonal cells, all the three adhesion molecules showed heterogenicity staining. The cytoplasm and membrane of inner covering cells in the hemorrhagic pattern were positively stained for E-cadherin, β-catenin and p120ctn . The expression of the three adhesion molecules in hyperplastic type Ⅱ alveolar cells of pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor was similar to cuboidal cells of PSH. Conclusion It is concluded that cuboidal cells of PSH may be the hyperplastic type Ⅱ alveolar cells, whereas polygonal cells are true tumor cells lacking the E-cadherin/catenin complex which is expressed in well differentiated epithelial cells. The inner covering cells in the hemorrhagic pattern of PSH are perhaps epithelial cells as cuboidal cells rather than vascular endothelial cells.