Normal Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Cells Lack E-cadherin

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Introduction: E-cadherin plays a crucial role in the adhesion between epithelial cells and thus epithelial integrity. Moreover, germ line mutations in the E-cadherin gene (CDH1) causing loss of E-cadherin function (adhesion) leads to hereditary gastric cancer of the diffuse type, according to Laurén. Even sporadic gastric carcinomas of the diffuse type often lose E-cadherin expression due to mutations. Lack of E-cadherin has been recorded at an early phase in such carcinomas.

Aim(s): The present study was done to examine whether normal neuroendocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract express E-cadherin or not.

Materials and methods: During upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, biopsies were taken from normal oxyntic mucosa, gastric carcinoids, gastric carcinomas and from the duodenum. Tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry using antibodies towards chromogranin A, synaptophysin and E-cadherin. Isolated mucosal cells were prepared from biopsies from normal mucosa and examined by antibodies against the same markers by immunofluorescence.

Conference: 11th Annual ENETSConcerence (2014)

Presenting Author: Hauso �

Authors: Hauso �, Nordbø H, Ringnes E, Sørdal �, Nordrum I,

Keywords: E-cadherin, neuroendocrine cell, gastric cancer, adhesion molecules, neuroendocrine tumors, carcinoid,