Abstract:Objective To study the distributions of gallbladder stellate cells (GSCs) and the expressions of TGFβ1mRNA, CTGFmRNA in gallbladder adenocarcinoma, pericancerous tissues, and chronic cholecystitis, and their clinicopathological significance.
Methods EnVisionTM immunohistochemistry of αSMA monconal antibody for GSCs or in situ hybridization for TGFβ1mRNA and CTGFmRNA was used in paraffinembedded sections of the specimens of gallbladder adenocarcinoma (n=108), pericancerous tissues (n=46) and chronic cholecystitis (n=35).
Results The positive expression rates and scores of αSMA, TGFβ1mRNA, CTGFmRNA were significantly higher in specimens of gallbladder adenocacrcinoma than those in pericancerous tissues or chronic cholecystitis (P<0.01). The positive expression rates and scores of αSMA, TGFβ1mRNA and CTGFmRNA were significantly higher in the cases of malignant adenoma, maximal diameter of tumor <2cm，with no lymphnode metastasis, and no invasion of regional tissues compared to those in cases of lowdifferentiated adenocarcinoma, maximal diameter of tumor ≥2cm, with lymphnode metastasis, and invasion of regional tissues (P<0.05 or P<0.01). High and close positive correlations were found among the expression scores of αSMA,
TGFβ1mRNA and CTGFmRNA in gallbladder adenocarcioma (αSMA vs TGFβ1mRNA, r=0.82; αSMA vs CTGFmRNA, r=0.75; TGFβ1mRNA vs CTGFmRNA, r=0.78).
Conclusions The expressions of αSMA, TGFβ1mRNA and CTGFmRNA might be important biological markers for reflecting the carcinogenesis, progression, biological behaviors and prognosis of gallbladder adenocarcinoms. TGFβ1 and CTGF might have important regulatory effects on the activation of GSCs.