1.Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transitions of Bile Duct Epithelial Cells in Primary Hepatolithiasis.
Lijin ZHAO ; Rigao YANG ; Long CHENG ; Maijian WANG ; Yan JIANG ; Shuguang WANG
Journal of Korean Medical Science 2010;25(7):1066-1070
The purpose of this study was to explore the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the pathogenesis of hepatolithiasis. Thirty-one patients with primary hepatolithiasis were enrolled in this study. Expressions of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, alpha-SMA, vimentin, S100A4, TGF-beta1 and P-smad2/3 in hepatolithiasis bile duct epithelial cells were examined by immunohistochemistry staining. The results showed that the expressions of the epithelial markers E-cadherin and alpha-catenin were frequently lost in hepatolithiasis (32.3% and 25.9% of cases, respectively), while the mesenchymal markers vimentin, alpha-SMA and S100A4 were found to be present in hepatolithiasis (35.5%, 29.0%, and 32.3% of cases, respectively). The increased mesenchymal marker expression was correlated with decreased epithelial marker expression. The expressions of TGF-beta1 and P-smad2/3 in hepatolithiasis were correlated with the expression of S100A4. These data indicate that TGF-beta1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition might be involved in the formation of hepatolithiasis.
Adult
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*Bile Ducts/cytology/metabolism/pathology
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Biological Markers/*metabolism
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Cell Differentiation/*physiology
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Epithelial Cells/cytology/*physiology
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Epithelium/physiology
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Female
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*Gallstones/metabolism/pathology
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Humans
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Liver Diseases/metabolism/*pathology
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Male
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Mesoderm/cytology/*physiology
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Middle Aged