Localisation of carcinoembryonic antigen in embryonic and fetal human tissues

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was localized in various embryonic and fetal human tissues between 8 and 16 weeks of gestation as well as in the colorectal mucosa of older fetuses, newborns and adults. Among the embryonic tissues, CEA was always present in the esophagus, the gastric antrum, the duodenum and the rectum. CEA positive staining of bile canaliculi of the liver was inconstant. All other embryonic tissues were CEA negative. During early fetal development, CEA positive staining of the esophagus, antrum and duodenum was inconstant. However, the whole colon became intensively stained. An inconstant CEA specific staining was found in parts of the midgut and in the bile canaliculi of the liver. The other organs remained CEA negative. Between the 17th week of gestation and birth, CEA staining pattern of the colorectal mucosa did not change. The staining intensity of late fetal colonic mucosa was similar to that of adult colonic mucosa.     

Immunohistochemical studies of colorectal carcinoma with a monoclonal antibody against carcinoembryonic antigen

Immunoperoxidase localization of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was performed on tissue sections of colorectal carcinoma using a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against CEA. CEA has been demonstrated in 20 out of 22 rectum carcinomas (90.9%), in all of 23 colonic carcinomas, in none of 4 hyperplastic polyps and in 2 out of 6 adenomatous polyps (33.3%). CEA was found more often, and the intensity of the staining was stronger in well-differentiated carcinomas than in moderately and poorly differentiated carcinomas. No correlation was found between the presence of CEA in colorectal carcinoma and the stages of the disease. The mean values of serum CEA in patients with colorectal carcinoma and polyps with negative, weakly and strongly positive staining were 5.4 +/- 3.9 ng/ml, 28.3 +/- 23.8 ng/ml and 99.8 +/- 145.3 ng/ml respectively. Elevation of serum CEA occurred in 30 out of 39 (78.9%) cases with strongly positive CEA staining, in 4 out of 6 (66.7%) with weakly positive and in 1 out 9 (11.1%) with negative staining. A significant difference was found in serum CEA activity between the group with negative CEA staining and positive CEA staining (P less than 0.01). Our results suggest that the monoclonal antibody (MAb C27) can be used for the localization of CEA in conventionally prepared tissues of colorectal carcinomas by immunoperoxidase techniques for routine immunopathological diagnosis.     

Survey of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase isoenzyme in rat organs and ontogenic expression of the enzyme in rat fetus

1. Among eleven tissues of rat, the liver type of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) subunit was detected in the liver, kidney, testis, pancreas and lung by Western blot analysis using anti-(liver FBPase) or anti-(muscle FBPase) serum. 2. The muscle type of the enzyme subunit was detected only in the pancreas other than skeletal muscle. Both types of the enzyme subunit were found in the pancreas. 3. Neither anti-(liver FBPase) nor anti-(muscle FBPase) serum detected the band of enzyme subunit on the blots of the extracts of brain, heart, small intestinal mucosa, spleen and placenta. 4. FBPase is present in fetal rat liver at least as early as the 14th day of gestation. 5. In agreement with the increase in immunological staining density, the level of the enzyme activity in fetal liver increased exponentially during fetal development. 6. The muscle enzyme was not detected until the fetus reached the 19th day of gestation.     

Analysis of the sinusoidal endothelial cell organization during the developmental stage of the fetal rat liver using a sinusoidal endothelial cell specific antibody, SE-1

The sinusoid organization during the development of fetal rat livers was studied using a SE-1 antibody, which we have previously established as a specific monoclonal antibody against rat sinusoidal endothelial cell (SEC). Expression and localization of the SE-1 antigen in the liver tissues of 13- to 21-day-old fetuses were immunofluorescently and immunoelectron microscopically examined. The first positive fluorescence was observed in the immature liver of 15-day-old fetuses. The initial positive staining was randomly distributed in the liver parenchyma and showed no direct relation to the large vessels which may be derived from the fetal vitelline veins. The positive linear staining increased in number and connected with each other during the course of development. The SE-1 staining pattern and the sinusoidal arrangement became similar to those of the adult liver after 20th day of gestation. Immunoelectron microscopically, the immature SEC showed a weak positive reaction for the SE-1 antigen at their membrane and was observed together with immature hepatocytes and hematopoietic cells in the 15-day-old fetal liver. Along with the liver development, SEC formed a sinusoid structure closely associated with hepatocytes and came to strongly express the SE-1 antigen. These results indicate that the organization of the hepatic sinusoid may start at around 15th day of the gestation and occurs randomly in the fetal liver parenchyma. It is also suggested that the expression of SE-1 antigen is possibly regulated by the intimate association with hepatocytes.     

Monoclonal antibodies for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as a model system: identification of two novel CEA-related antigens in meconium and colorectal carcinoma tissue by Western blots and differential immunoaffinity chromatography

In a previous study, five monoclonal antibodies against the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) with different epitope specificities were delineated. One of these antibodies which exhibits a high affinity for CEA binds to different carcinoma tissues, to liver tissue, and to granulocytes. This antibody was selected for the immunoaffinity purification of CEA and related antigens from colorectal carcinoma tissue, from spleen tissues, from bile, and from meconium. After elution from the immunosorbent, the antigens were separated by SDS-PAGE, were transferred to nitrocellulose, and were incubated with the five different antibodies. Antibody T84.1 bound to the following antigens: 177 kD and 128 kD from colonic carcinoma, 81 kD from bile, 49 kD from spleen, as well as 165 kD and 100 kD from meconium. Two additional antibodies showed a similar binding pattern. The fourth antibody (CEA.11) bound to the 165 kD meconium antigen and to the two colorectal carcinoma antigens. The fifth antibody (T84.66) showed a strong reaction with the 177 kD colorectal carcinoma antigen and a faint reaction with a 183 kD antigen in meconium. As judged from m.w. and immunochemical properties, the 128 kD colorectal carcinoma antigen and the 100 kD meconium antigen are two novel CEA-related antigens. Because antibody CEA.11 did not bind to the 100 kD meconium antigen in Western blots, the 165 kD antigen could be eluted from a CEA.11 immunosorbent without contamination by the 100 kD antigen. Similarly, as predicted from the binding pattern in the Western blots, the two colorectal carcinoma antigens were separated from each other by a T84.66 immunosorbent.     

Immunological characteristics of monoclonal antibodies against human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Four hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) of the IgG1 subclass against human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were obtained from fusion of P3-NS1/1-Ag4 myeloma cells with splenic cells from mice immunized with purified CEA. None of the MAbs showed cross-reactivity to perchloric acid extractable antigens from the normal human colon by an inhibition radioimmunoassay. However, MAb C27 showed the highest affinity to CEA. The intensity of immunofluorescence staining of human colorectal cancer cells with MAb C27 correlates well to the cellular CEA content of cancer cells. LS174T showed the highest intensity of fluorescence (95%) while COLO320DM and COLO320HRS were the lowest (0.5%). None of the normal human organs - colon, lungs, liver, spleen or kidneys-showed positive staining by immunoperoxidase anti-peroxidase (PA) techniques, while tissues from colorectal carcinoma (CRC), gastric carcinoma, hepatoma and lung cancer gave a positive rate of 100% (30/30), 96.6% (28/29), 32.1% (9/28) and 82.1% (69/84) respectively. Results suggest that MAb C27 can be used in immunodetection and radiolocalization of colorectal carcinoma.     

Cell sources of liver development

The work is devoted to consequent expression of different cell types' protein markers such as vimentin, desmin, cytokeratins 7, 18, 19, stem cell markers CD34 and Bcl-2 at early stages of human prenatal development. Desmin was revealed in sinusoidal liver cells on 3.5-12 weeks of gestation, in mesenchymal cells of ventral mesentery and hepatoblasts on the 4-7 accordingly. During hepatic period of blood formation such desmin positive sinusoidal cells were found to be located close to blood cells. So called "cholangio-" cytokeratins 7 and 19 showed different expression, the first one was found only in cholangiocytes, while cytokeratin 19 existed in hepatoblasts as well until week 15-16 of prenatal development. Mesenchymal cells of ventral mesentery are positive for cytokeratins 18 and 19 even brighter than hepatoblasts in the 4-7 weeks of gestation. Bcl-2 expression was seen in the same periods in most sinusoidal and mesenchymal cells of ventral mesentery. CD34 positive cells are strongly depicted in liver sinusoids from 4th until 9th weeks of gestation, but probably they are not a source of hepatocytes' development in embryonic ontogenesis. Ventral mesentery mesenchyme was negative for this very marker. These results let us suppose that hepatocytes and cholangiocytes may develop from quite different embryonic sources: cholangyocytes grow exceptionally from duodenum epithelial cells, while there is a strong possibility that hepatoblasts formation occurs with participation of mesenchymal cells.     

The carcino-embryonic antigen of experimental tumors of the intestine]

The occurrence of a tumour-specific antigen in the intestinal tumours (induced in 51 albino rats by subcutaneous injection of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine), as well as in the blood serum was studied by double immunodiffusion in agar gel. Intestinal tumours proved to contain a water-soluble antigen absent in other tissues, including the colonic mucosa of control animals. This antigen was found in 70 per cent of the tumour-bearing rats. The antigen is perchloric acid-solubilized and is also present in the embryonic tissues in toto on the 7th and the 9th days of rat gestation. The features of this antigen were analogous with those of the carcino-embryonic antigen in human digestive tract tumours.     

Appearance of functional EGF receptor kinase during rodent embryogenesis.

Mouse and rat embryonic tissues at various stages of development were examined for epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor kinase activity. The phosphorylated EGF receptor from embryonic tissues appeared as a band of mol. wt. 170 000 daltons on SDS gels. It was clearly demonstrable in the developing mouse fetus from 10 days of gestation onwards. The distribution of the EGF receptor kinase was studied in various tissues of 13 day mouse fetuses. The activity was apparent in the skin, developing skeletal muscles and various internal organs but was notably absent in the liver and brain. The amnion was found to be one of the richest sources of activity while the yolk sac was negative, and the placenta was weakly positive. In 16 day rat fetuses the distribution was quite similar to that of the 13 day mouse fetus. The liver acquired EGF receptor kinase activity by 18 days of gestation and had high activity in neonates. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that phosphotyrosine was the major labelled amino acid residue in the embryonic tissues. Thus, the EGF receptor of fetal tissues as studied by immune precipitation and phosphorylation appears to be a similar entity to that found in adult mammalian tissues. This functional EGF receptor kinase activity could first be detected at the time of onset of organogenesis.     

Developmental mucin gene expression in the gastroduodenal tract and accessory digestive glands. II. Duodenum and liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Studies were undertaken to provide information regarding cell-specific expression of mucin genes and their relation to developmental and neoplastic patterns of epithelial cytodifferentiation. In situ hybridization was used to study mRNA expression of mucin genes in duodenum and accessory digestive glands (liver, gallbladder, pancreas) of 13 human embryos and fetuses (6. 5-27 weeks' gestation), comparing these with normal and neoplastic adult tissues. These investigations demonstrated that the pattern of mucin gene expression in fetal duodenum reiterated the patterns we observed during gastric and intestinal ontogenesis, with MUC2 and MUC3 expression in the surface epithelium and MUC6 expression associated with the development of Brünner's glands. In embryonic liver, MUC3 was already expressed at 6.5 weeks of gestation in hepatoblasts. As in adults, MUC1, MUC2, MUC3, MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC6 were expressed in fetal gallbladder, whereas MUC4 was not. In contrast, MUC4 was strongly expressed in gallbladder adenocarcinomas. MUC5B and MUC6 were expressed in fetal pancreas, from 12 weeks and 26 weeks of gestation, respectively. Surprisingly, MUC3 which is strongly expressed in adult pancreas, was not detected in developmental pancreas. Taken together, these data show complex spatio-temporal regulation of the mucin genes and suggest a possible regulatory role for mucin gene products in gastroduodenal epithelial cell differentiation.     

Heterogeneous expression of two oncodevelopmental antigens, CEA and SSEA-1, in colorectal cancer

Summary Colorectal carcinomas are composed of heterogeneous cell subpopulations which may be instrumental in conferring metastatic potential and therapeutic refractoriness to these tumours. To assess cellular heterogeneity, the expression has been examined of two oncodevelopmental antigens, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 (SSEA-1), by double immunofluorescence microscopy on 11 human colorectal carcinomas. Although both antigens were expressed in each tumour, their regional and cellular locations differed considerably. SSEA-1 expression was rarely expressed in poorly differentiated cancers but was enhanced with increasing degrees of differentiation. CEA expression was independent of histological differentiation. SSEA-1 was expressed with similar frequency in cell membranes, cytoplasm, and glandular contents regardless of degree of differentiation. Cytoplasmic staining with CEA however, was limited to more poorly differentiated tumours. In normal mucosa remote from the tumours and transitional mucosa adjacent to them, SSEA-1 stained only a few lower crypts whereas CEA stained a majority of both upper and lower crypts. Although biochemical studies have indicated that the SSEA-1 epitope may reside on CEA molecules, the fact that colon cancer tissues express these two antigens quite heterogeneously suggests differences in antigenic processing which may be dependent upon the degree of cellular differentiation.     

Ontogeny and distribution of certain endocrine cells in the human fetal large intestine

Summary In 9 fetuses, 9 to 24 weeks-old, the occurrence and relative distribution of argentaffin cells, as well as of cells immunoreactive to somatostatin (SRIF), glucagon-like polypeptide (GLI), pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and substance P (SP) were studied in five segments of the colon (appendix, cecum, ascending colon, descending colon, and rectosigmoid). For each colonic segment, data concerned with the occurrence of endocrine cells were expressed either as mean absolute numbers of specific cells per entire mucosal section, or as cell densities per mm³ of mucosa after calculation of the mucosal volume of the sections. Argentaffin, GLI, SRIF and PP immunoreactive cells are all present in relatively large numbers, scattered along the entire length of the colonic mucosa as early as the 9th–10th week of gestation, whereas substance P-containing cells occur sporadically and first appear during the 14th–17th week. Until the 20th week, with progressing embryonic development, an increase was determined in absolute numbers per section of all types of endocrine cells in all segments of the colon. This observation is clearly related to the general growth of the colonic mucosa, since cell densities per mm³ of mucosa do not greatly change or even decrease during gestation. However, it is possible that densities of argentaffin, GLI and BPP cells increase in the appendix around the 14th–17th week of gestation. Between the 20th and 24th week, absolute numbers of cells per section remain stable or slightly increase, while cell densities tend rather to decrease in all segments. These data demonstrate that some endocrine cells are present very early in the human fetal colon, but their functional significance remains to be elucidated.This work was supported by the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)     

Expression of murine Ia antigens during embryonic development.

An immunochemical analysis of the kinetics of appearance of Ia antigens during embryonic development was performed. Ia antigens first appear on the surface of embryonic cells 11 days postconception and their expression between days 11 and 16 of gestation is confined to the fetal liver. Ia antigen synthesis by fetal liver cells is detectable at day 14. Ia seems to precede Ig as a surface marker of embryonic liver cells, since Ig cannot be detected until day 16 of gestation. H-2 antigens may be immunoprecipitated from day 10 whole embryo cells. F9 primitive teratocarcinoma cells are Ia negative and H-2 negative.     

肠道疾病患者粪便中的产甲烷菌

检查了10例结肠直肠,1例十二指肠憩室患者和2名正常人的粪样。9个粪便富集培养物中有甲烷短秆菌。 产甲烷菌阳性者比例为69％。从4例结扬直肠癌和1例十二指肠憩室患者的粪便富集物中分离出甲烷短杆菌。结肠直扬癌患者中,呼气甲烷阳性者比例和产甲烷置明显增高。呼气末气体标本中的甲烷量有望成为监护癌前状态发生结肠或直肠癌和监护癌肿切除者复发的一种快速、简便和非侵人性的方法。     

Immunohistochemical studies on the ontogenesis of some endocrine cells in the chicken antrum and duodenum

The time of appearance, morphology and topographic distribution of gastrin/CCK-, somatostatin-, 5HT-, and bombesin-like immunoreactive cells during embryonic and postnatal development were studied in chicken antrum and duodenum with immunohistochemical methods. Gastrin/CCK-like cells appeared on or about the 11th day in the antrum and duodenum, somatostatin-like cells around the 12th day in the antrum and the 11th day in the duodenum, bombesin-like cells appeared only in the antrum and only at hatching. In the early stages of development all the immunoreactive cells were localized in the surface epithelium, descending deeper into the glands as these form, although some cells could always be seen in the surface epithelium. Around the 17th day the number of gastrin/CCK-like cells and somatostatin-like cells in the antrum increases, while 5HT-like already become more numerous in the duodenum from the 13th day onwards. Two territories were recognized in the antrum of the adult: the first was near the duodenum where gastrin/CCK-like and somatostatin-like cells, often in close contact, were very numerous; the other territory was near the gizzard where bombesin-like cells were more numerous. Both regions contained 5HT-like cells in smaller number. In adult duodenum, 5HT-like cells were the most numerous, while somatostatin-like cells and gastrin/CCK-like cells, found in more superficial locations, were more scanty.     

甘油二酯激酶α在结直肠癌中的表达及其与PKC、TNFα的相关性

目的探讨甘油二酯激酶α(DGKα)在结直肠癌中的表达及其与蛋白激酶C(PKC)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNFα)表达的相关性。方法应用免疫组化方法检测DGKα、PKC和TNFα在48例结直肠癌、癌旁正常组织和9例腺瘤性息肉中的表达。结果 DGKα在结直肠癌组织和癌旁正常组织有表达,结直肠癌组织中DGKα阳性表达率(79.2%)显著高于腺瘤性息肉(阴性)和癌旁正常组织(33.3%,P0.05);PKC主要分布在结直肠癌和癌旁正常组织中,结直肠癌组织中PKC阳性表达率(35.4%)显著高于腺瘤性息肉(阴性),与癌旁正常组织(20.8%)相比无显著性差异(P0.05);TNFα在三种组织中均表达阳性,结直肠癌组织中TNFα阳性表达率(95.8%)显著高于腺瘤性息肉(55.6%,P0.05),与癌旁正常组织(87.5%)相比无显著性差异(P0.05);结直肠癌组织中,DGKα与PKC的表达呈负相关(r=-0.437,P0.05),与TNFα的表达没有相关性(r=0.185,P0.05)。结论DGKα在结直肠癌组织中的表达高于腺瘤性息肉,DGKα可能抑制了PKC的活性,但对TNFα没有明显的抑制作用,在临床病理鉴别诊断中有辅助价值。     

Post-translational processing of gastrin in neoplastic human colonic tissues.

Gastrin has been postulated to stimulate proliferation in colorectal neoplasms. Although gastrin mRNA has been demonstrated to be present in colon cancer cell lines, the intact peptide had not been recovered from human colorectal neoplasms. We demonstrate that gastrin and its precursors are present in both colorectal neoplasia and adjacent normal-appearing colonic mucosa. In colonic tissue, the glycine-extended precursor form of the peptide is over 10-fold more abundant than the amidated gastrin, and progastrin is more than 700-fold more abundant. In contrast, amidated gastrin in the human antrum is the predominant form of gastrin by a factor of 10. Furthermore, the ratio of gastrin precursors to gastrin is significantly increased in neoplastic colonic mucosa when compared with normal colonic tissue. These data suggest that the processing of gastrin is unique in the human colon and that further differences in processing occur in neoplastic colonic tissue.     

Overlapping expression of microRNAs in human embryonic colon and colorectal cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential for regulating cell differentiation and maintaining the pluripotent state of stem cells. Although dysregulation of specific miRNAs has been associated with certain types of cancer, to date no evidence has linked miRNA expression in embryonic and tumor tissues. We assessed the expression of mature miRNAs in human embryonic colon tissue, and in colorectal cancer and paired normal colon tissue. Overlapping miRNA expression was detected between embryonic colonic mucosa and colorectal cancer. We have found that the miR-17-92 cluster and its target, E2F1, exhibit a similar pattern of expression in human colon development and colonic carcinogenesis, regulating cell proliferation in both cases. In situ hybridization confirmed the high level of expression of miR-17-5p in the crypt progenitor compartment. We conclude that miRNA pathways play a major role in both embryonic development and neoplastic transformation of the colonic epithelium.     

Carcinoembryonic antigen gene and carcinoembryonic antigen expression in the liver metastasis of colorectal carcinoma.

The presence of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene and CEA expression in the liver was tested to identify their possible roles in the liver metastasis of colorectal carcinoma. The CEA gene in the liver was identified by amplifying the CEA-specific N-terminal domain exon with digoxigenin-dUTP labeling in 16 colorectal carcinomas with liver metastases. Next, CEA expression was tested by immunostaining using the anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (T84.66, ATCC). Liver tissues from 13 stomach cancer patients and 12 colorectal cancer patients without liver metastasis were also tested as control groups. Three grades (<25%, 25-50%, and 50%< or =) were given according to the proportion of positive cells. The CEA gene was amplified in the metastatic tumor cells of the liver (2.6 +/- 0.2, mean grade +/- SEM) and their surrounding hepatocytes (1.5 +/- 0.2) in all cases. CEA expression was found in all metastatic tumor cells and 14 cases of the surrounding hepatocytes. Among the control groups, the CEA gene of the hepatocytes was found in 9 cases each of the colorectal and the stomach cancers that did not exhibit CEA expression. The level of serum CEA was related with the numbers and volume of liver metastases, but not with CEA expression in tumor cells and surrounding hepatocytes. The CEA gene in the metastatic tumor cells, not in the hepatocytes, was closely associated with CEA expression in the surrounding hepatocytes (p<0.01). Although the precise mechanism of CEA gene regulation in hepatocytes remains to be proven, the CEA gene in the metastatic tumor of the liver seems to affect CEA expression in the surrounding hepatocytes facilitating liver metastasis in colorectal carcinoma.     

Immunohistochemical distribution of the antigenic determinants detected by monoclonal antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen

By using four distinct monoclonal antibodies to CEA, the molecular profile of which was clarified in our accompanying companion paper, immunohistochemical distribution of the antigenic determinants on both cancerous and noncancerous tissues as well as fetal tissues was studied with the use of the immunoperoxidase method. All of the monoclonal antibodies recognize different antigenic determinants on the tissue section. None of the antibodies stained granulocytes in the peripheral blood or in the normal liver tissues tested. Three of our monoclonal antibodies stained columnar epithelial cells in morphologically normal colonic mucosa; however, monoclonal antibody YK024 did not stain them. This antibody was also found to be unreactive with intestinal metaplasia lesions of the stomach, but reacted with a 16-wk-old fetal stomach as well as with cancerous parts of the colon and of the stomach. Moreover, it was found that this monoclonal antibody mainly reacted with moderately or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma lesions of the colon and the stomach. Periodic acid treatment in this study, together with trypsin treatment on the antigen as described in our accompanying companion paper, may suggest that this antibody recognizes the carbohydrate antigenic determinant in nature.