Abstract
Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1) is a transcription factor that is crucial in embryogenic development and differentiation of pancreas, and its overexpression is reportedly involved in the progression of many malignancies, including pancreatic carcinoma. In this study, the role of Pdx1 was examined in cholangiocarcinogenesis. Forty-three cases of human cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and 66 cases of hepatolithiasis or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) with biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN) lesions and also eight fetal and 20 adult normal livers were examined immunohistochemically. Pdx1 was constantly expressed in the nuclei of fetal bile ducts, but was virtually absent in the large bile ducts of adults. By contrast, Hairy and enhancer of split 1 (Hes1), which represses pancreatic exocrine and endocrine differentiation, was expressed frequently in the adult bile ducts. Pdx1 was expressed in 67% of invasive CCs. In large bile ducts, expression of Pdx1 increased while that of Hes1 decreased during the progression of BilIN lesions to CC. Expression of Pdx1 correlated with proliferative activities in CCs. In an in vitro study, all three CC cell lines expressed Pdx1 mRNA and protein. Up-regulation of Pdx1 is a feature of cholangiocarcinogenesis associated with chronic cholangitis. Furthermore, expression of Pdx1 in CC is related to increased proliferative activity in CCs.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.