Brief Article
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2013; 19(28): 4504-4510
Published online Jul 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i28.4504
Neurotensin receptor 1 overexpression in inflammatory bowel diseases and colitis-associated neoplasia
Xianyong Gui, Shuhong Liu, Yuchu Yan, Zuhua Gao
Xianyong Gui, Shuhong Liu, Yuchu Yan, Zuhua Gao, Calgary Laboratory Services and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2T9, Canada
Author contributions: Gui X is the guarantor of the work as well as the main/lead researcher who was instrumental in the design, planning, selecting tissue samples, conducting the study, data review and analysis of the results, and writing the manuscript; Liu S was the major contributor to the laboratory work; Yan Y assisted with the laboratory work; Gao Z contributed partly to the results review/analysis, comments, and review of the manuscript.
Supported by Calgary Laboratory Services Internally Supported Research, RS09-533
Correspondence to: Xianyong Gui, MD, PhD, Calgary Laboratory Services and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, 1403-29 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2T9, Canada. xsean.gui@cls.ab.ca
Telephone: +1-403-9448507 Fax: +1-403-9444748
Received: December 3, 2012
Revised: March 23, 2013
Accepted: April 13, 2013
Published online: July 28, 2013
Abstract

AIM: To explore the association of neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and colitis-associated neoplasia.

METHODS: NTSR1 was detected by immunohistochemistry in clinical samples of colonic mucosa with IBD colitis, colitis-associated raised low-grade dysplasia (LGD) including dysplasia-associated lesions or masses (DALMs, n = 18) and adenoma-like dysplastic polyps (ALDPs, n = 4), colitis-associated high-grade dysplasia (HGD, n = 11) and colitis-associated colorectal carcinoma (CACRC, n = 13), sporadic colorectal adenomatous polyp (SAP, n = 17), and sporadic colorectal carcinoma (SCRC, n = 12). The immunoreactivity of NTSR1 was semiquantitated (as negative, 1+, 2+, and 3+) and compared among different conditions.

RESULTS: NTSR1 was not detected in normal mucosa but was expressed similarly in both active and inactive colitis. LGD showed a significantly stronger expression as compared with non-dysplastic colitic mucosa, with significantly more cases showing > 2+ intensity (68.75% in LGD vs 32.26% in nondysplastic mucosa, P = 0.001). However, no significant difference existed between DALMs and ALDPs. CACRC and HGD showed a further stronger expression, with significantly more cases showing 3+ intensity than that in LGD (61.54% vs 12.50% for CACRC vs LGD, P = 0.022; 58.33% vs 12.50% for CACRC/HGD vs LGD, P = 0.015). No significant difference existed between colitis-associated and non-colitic sporadic neoplasia.

CONCLUSION: NTSR1 in colonic epithelial cells is overexpressed in IBD, in a stepwise fashion with sequential progress from inflammation to dysplasia and carcinoma.

Keywords: Neurotensin, Neurotensin receptor, Inflammatory bowel diseases, Dysplasia, Colitis-associated neoplasia, Dysplasia-associated lesion or mass, Sporadic adenoma, Colorectal carcinoma

Core tip: Neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) in colonic epithelial cells is overexpressed in inflammatory bowel diseases, in a stepwise fashion with the sequential progress from inflammation to low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia, and carcinoma. Both colitis-associated and sporadic dysplasia/carcinoma showed a similar pattern of NTSR1 overexpression. NTSR1 could be a potential pharmacological target in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases and prevention of colitis-associated neoplasia.