Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 15, 2003; 9(7): 1601-1603
Published online Jul 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i7.1601
Expressions of PCNA, p53, p21WAF-1 and cell proliferation in fetal esophageal epithelia: Comparative study with adult esophageal lesions from subjects at high-incidence area for esophageal cancer in Henan, North China
Ying Xing, Yu Ning, Li-Qiang Ru, Li-Dong Wang
Ying Xing, Li-Qiang Ru, Department of Neurobiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
Yu Ning, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China
Li-Dong Wang, Laboratory for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by National Distinguished Young Scientist Foundation of China, No.30025016
Correspondence to: Dr. Li-Dong Wang, Professor of Pathology and Oncology and Ying Xing, Professor of Physiology, Laboratory for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China. lidong0823@sina.com
Telephone: +86-371-6970165 Fax: +86-371-6970165
Received: March 2, 2003
Revised: March 14, 2003
Accepted: March 25, 2003
Published online: July 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To characterize the expression of p53, p21WAF-1 and proliferation-cell-nuclear-antigen (PCNA) in fetal esophageal epithelia and to determine the role of these genes in proliferation of fetal and adult esophageal epithelial cells.

METHODS: Immunohistochemical avdin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) method was applied to 31 cases of fetal esophageal specimens and 194 cases of adult esophageal specimens to detect the expression of p53, p21WAF-1 and PCNA in fetal and adult esophageal epithelia.

RESULTS: Both the PCNA positive immunostaining cell number and PCNA positive immunostaining rate in fetal esophageal epithelia (506 ± 239) were significantly higher than those in adults, including normal epithelia (200 ± 113) and epithelia with basal cell hyperplasia (BCH) (286 ± 150) (P < 0.05, t test). However, the number of PCNA positive immunostaining cells in adult esophageal dysplasia (719 ± 389) and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) (1261 ± 545) was apparently higher than that in fetal esophageal epithelia (506 ± 239) (P < 0.05, t test). The positive immunostaining rate of P53 was 10% (3/31) in fetal esophageal epithelia, which was significantly lower than that in adult normal esophageal epithelia (50%), adult epithelia with basal cell hyperplasia (62%), dysplasia (73%) and squamous cell carcinoma (86%) (P < 0.05, Fisher's exact test). No p21WAF-1 positive immunostaining cells were observed in fetal esophageal epithelia. However, p21WAF-1 positive immunostaining cells were observed in adult esophagus with 39% (11/28) in normal, 38% (14/37) in BCH, 27% (3/11) in DYS and 14% (1/7) in SCC.

CONCLUSION: PCNA could act as an indicator accurately reflecting the high proliferation status of fetal esophageal epithelium. p53 may play an important role in growth and differentiation of fetal esophageal epithelium. p21WAF-1 may have no physiological function in development of fetal esophageal epithelium.

Keywords: $[Keywords]