Human gallbladder carcinoma: Role of neurotrophins, MIB-1, CD34 and CA15-3

M. Artico,¹ E. Bronzetti,² V. Alicino,¹ B. Ionta,¹ S. Bosco,³ C. Grande,³ M. Bruno,¹ F. M. Tranquilli Leali,² G. Ionta,⁴ L. Fumagalli²

¹Department of Otorhinolaringology, Audiology and Phoniatry ‘G. Ferreri’; ²Department of Human Anatomy; ³Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’; ⁴Division of Oncological Surgery, ASL Scafati (SA), Rome, Italy

Correspondence: Marco Artico, Department of Otorhinolaringology, Audiology and Phoniatry ‘G. Ferreri’, University of Rome La Sapienza, V.le del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy.
E-mail: marco.artico@uniroma1.it

Key words: neurotrophins, human biliary ducts, gallbladder, immunohistochemistry, cholangiocarcinoma.

Received for publication: 25 September 2009.
Accepted for publication: 7 January 2010.

©Copyright M. Artico et al., 2010
Licensee PAGEPress, Italy
European Journal of Histochemistry 2010; 54:e10
doi:10.4081/ejh.2010.e10




Introduction

Carcinoma of the gallbladder is the most common biliary tract tumor and the fifth most common gastrointestinal tract cancer. The symptoms of gallbladder carcinoma are non-specific, but the risk is significantly higher in cholelithiasis. The non-specificity of symptoms is responsible for delayed diagnosis: in fact, this tumor is usually identified at an advanced stage when it has already become unresectable.1 The prognosis of gallbladder carcinoma is poor and less than 5% of the patients are still alive five years postoperatively. The majority of patients who live longer than five years are usually those in whom the carcinoma was first diagnosed at microscopic examination of their gallbladders which were removed for a presumed benign disease.1 The major route of spread of gallbladder cancer is locoregional: in fact, it usually extends directly into the liver and porta hepatis resulting in narrowing or obstruction of the common hepatic or right hepatic duct.1
The liver and the biliary ducts are innervated by both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, whose fibers are located around the hepatic artery, portal vein, intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary ducts.2 Various neurotransmitters, as NPY, CGRP, VIP, somatostatin, enkephalin and bombesin, are involved in regulating the functions of the bile ducts, portal tract and arterial vessels of the hepatic compartment, with possible multiple effects on intrahepatic hemodynamics.3,4 Biliary ducts are the target of cholangiopathies, defined by a dysregulation of the equilibrium between cell growth and survival, with a progressive impairment of the proliferative response against duct injury leading to a functional liver failure at the end stage.2 The possible malignant transformation of cholangiocytes leads to cholangiocarcinoma, which may affect not only the biliary ducts, but also the gallbladder. These lesions, often diagnosed at late stages and with an increasing incidence worldwide, are characterized by a limited and unsatisfactory surgical option as well as by a minimal response to the conventional chemotherapy.5 We decided to investigate the localization and the distribution of neurotrophins and their receptors in this controversial area. Neurotrophins (NTs) constitute a family of dimeric proteins working as polypeptidic growth factors and acting like extracellular ligands. NTs, including NGF, BDNF, NT-3, NT-4, are involved in neuronal cell development, differentiation, survival and functional activities. Neurotrophins are also involved in the modulation of adult central nervous system functions and organization, as well as in the neural control of different activities related to vegetative innervation of several organs.6,7 Our previous observations regarding the localization and possible roles in different non-neuronal tissues such as those of the lymphoid, lung and prostate tissues8,9 encouraged us to ascertain any possible involvement of NTs in the biliary ducts, both in physiological and pathological conditions (cholangiocarcinomas). Our study investigated the immunohistochemical localization and expression of NTs and their receptors both in normal autoptic specimens of normal gallbladder and in the neoplastic tissue obtained during surgical operations for the resection of a gallbladder carcinoma. Our interest was also focussed on some known tumor markers such as MIB-1 (Ki-67 antigen), CD34 and CA15-3 that are becoming significant in the diagnosis and evaluation of tumor but whose role in the gallbladder carcinoma has not yet been clearly established.10,11,12 We decided to describe the possibility of a correlation between the above mentioned tumor markers and the expression of NTs (and their receptors) to clarify the physiopathological mechanisms involved in gallbladder carcinoma development, and to identify a panel of reliable prognostic factors in the evaluation of tumor staging .

Materials and Methods

Patients

Surgical operations were performed on eleven adult patients (age range 45-75 years) for the resection of a gallbladder carcinoma. Specimens harvested from the above mentioned cases, as well as five other specimens (control cases) obtained during autopsies or during surgical resections performed for gallbladder lithiasis, were then processed for immunohistochemical analysis. Experiments were performed in compliance with the Italian laws and guidelines concerning the patients informed consent. The following molecules were investigated: nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), NT-3, NT-4 and the neurotrophin receptors tyrosine kinase A (TrKA), tyrosine kinase B (TrKB), tyrosine kinase C (TrKC) and p75, as well as MIB-1 (Ki-67 antigen), CD34 and CA15-3.

Immunohistochemical analysis

Small fragments of gallbladder tissue were washed in PBS, fixed in 10% formalin and embedded in paraffin according to a standard procedure. Serial 4 μm thick sections were cut using a rotary microtome, mounted on gelatin-coated slides and processed for immunohistochemistry. In order to study the immunolocalization of neurotrophins and their own receptors, the following antibodies were used: a) rabbit anti-nerve growth factor (anti-NGF) polyclonal antibody (Santa Cruz, CA, USA). It displayed <1% cross-reactivity against recombinant human NT-3, NT-4 and BDNF; b) rabbit anti-tyrosine kinase A (anti-TrKA) polyclonal antibody (Santa Cruz). It recognized an epitope corresponding to amino acids 763 to 777, mapping adjacent to the carboxy-terminus of human TrKA p140; c) goat polyclonal antibody to human p75 NT receptor (Santa Cruz). It recognized the amino acid sequence mapping the carboxy-terminus of the p75 NT receptor precursor of human origin; d) rabbit anti-brain derived neurotrophic factor (anti-BDNF) polyclonal antibody (Santa Cruz). It recognized the amino-terminal of mouse BDNF; e) rabbit anti-tyrosine kinase B (anti-TrKB) polyclonal antibody (Santa Cruz). It recognized an epitope corresponding to amino acids 794 to 808 of mouse TrKB p145; f) rabbit anti-neurotrophin 3 (anti-NT-3) polyclonal antibody (Santa Cruz). It was raised against the amino-terminal of mouse NT-3; g) rabbit polyclonal anti-tyrosine kinase C (anti-TrKC) antibody (Santa Cruz). It recognized an epitope corresponding to amino acids 798 to 812 of porcine TrKC p140; h) mouse monoclonal anti-human MIB-1 (Ki-67 antigen; Dako Cytomation, Denmark). The MIB-1 antibody recognizes native Ki-67 antigen and recombinant fragments of the Ki-67 molecule;13 i) monoclonal mouse anti-human CA15-3 antibody (Dako Cytomation, Denmark) reacts with the DF-3 antigen, a high molecular weight (300 kD) mucin-like glycoprotein, present on the apical borders of secretory mammary epithelial cells. The binding site for monoclonal antibody CA15-3 involves a glycosidic linkage between carbohydrate and protein moieties on the DF3 antigen; l) mouse monoclonal anti-CD34 (Abcam plc, Cambridge, UK), which reacts with a protein present on endothelial cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells. The antibody recognizes a neuraminidase sensitive epitope on endothelium in vivo, particularly on small vessels and neoformed capillaries and developing vascular structures in embryonal structures. CD34 is highly expressed on hematopoietic progenitors, as well as on endothelial cells, brain, and testis. Staining for CD34 has been used to measure angiogenesis, which reportedly predicts tumor recurrence.
Incubation with primary antibodies was performed overnight at 4°C at a final concentration of 2-5 μg/mL. Optimal antisera dilutions and incubation times were assessed in a series of preliminary experiments. After exposure to the primary antibodies, slides were rinsed twice in phosphate buffer and incubated 90 min at room temperature with the appropriate secondary antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) at final dilution 1:100. The secondary antibody-HRP linked against rabbit immunoglobulins was purchased from Boehringer (Mannheim GmbH, Mannheim, Germany), while secondary antibodies-HRP linked against mouse and goat immunoglobulins were from Sigma (Sigma Chemicals Co, St. Louis, MO, USA). After a further wash with phosphate buffer, slides were treated with 0.05% 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) and 0.1% H2O2. Finally, sections were counterstained with Mayer's hematoxylin and observed using a light microscope. To block endogenous peroxidase activity, slides were pretreated with 3% H2O2, whereas the non-specific binding of immunoglobulins was prevented by adding 3% fetal calf serum to the incubation medium. Negative control experiments were done: i) by omitting the primary antibody; ii) by substituting the primary antibody with an equivalent amount of non-specific immunoglobulins; iii) by pre-incubating the primary antibody with the specific blocking peptide (antigen/antibody = 5 according to supplier's instructions). The intensity of immune reaction was assessed microdensitometrically by an IAS 2000 image analyzer (Delta Sistemi, Rome, Italy) connected via a TV camera to the microscope. The system was calibrated taking the background obtained in sections exposed to non-immune serum as zero. Ten 100 μm² areas were delineated in each section by a measuring the diaphragm. Quantitative data of the intensity of the immune staining were analyzed statistically by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan's multiple range test as a post hoc test.
The parameter examined by quantitative analysis was the distribution and the intensity of the immunoreaction. The registered values were transformed into a single number expressed as conventional unit, including the standard deviation. This number can be read on the display of the Quantimet 500 image analyzer.

Results

Immunohistochemistry

Immunoreactivity for neurotrophins and their own receptors, as well as MIB-1, CD34 and CA15-3, was observed both in the normal gallbladder and in the neoplastic tissue and the results are described below (see Table I-II). The sections harvested from normal gallbladder generally revealed an evident immunoreactivity for NGF in the epithelial glands and in blood vessels (Figure 1A). TrkA immunoreactivity was strongly marked in the epithelial glands and in the epithelium layer (Figure 2A). A total absence of immunoreactivity for the p75NTR was demonstrated in all the examined structures (Figure 3A). BDNF immunoreactivity was extremely evident in the epithelial glands and in the epithelium (Figure 4A-5A) while in the same compartments we observed a weak reaction for TrkB (Figure 6A). Marked immunoreactivity was demonstrated for NT-3 in the epithelium, in the stroma, in the epithelial glands and in the blood vessels (Figure 7A). NT-4 in the previous compartments (Figure 8A) was characterized by the absence of immunoreactivty. TrkC immunoreactivity was poorly appreciable in the stroma and in epithelium/epithelial glands (Figure 9A). MIB-1, CD34 and CA 15-3 immunoreactivity were generally absent in all the control specimens (figure not shown).
On the other hand, the gallbladder carcinoma samples revealed a relevant immunoreactivity for NGF in the epithelium and in the stroma, and an evident, to a lesser degree immunoreactivity, in the epithelial glands and in the blood vessels (Figure 1B). TrkA immuno-reactivity was strongly marked in all the compartments with the exception of blood vessels and stroma, with a maximal expression in the epithelium (Figure 2B). An evident immunoreactivity for the p75NTR was visible in the stroma and in the epithelium, but moderate in the blood vessels and absent in the epithelial glands (Figure 3B). BDNF immunoreactivity was extremely evident in the stroma and in the epithelium, moderate in the epithelial glands and poorly appreciable in the blood vessels (Figure 4B – 5B). A marked immunoreaction for TrkB was observed only in the stromal compartment (Figure 6B). Marked immunoreactivity was showed by NT-3 in the epithelium, stroma, epithelial glands and in the blood vessels (Figure 7B). NT-4 (Figure 8B) was characterized by the absence of immunoreactivity in the previous compartments with the exception for the stroma which appeared weakly positive (Figure 8B). TrkC immunoreactivity was only poorly appreciable in the stroma (Figure 9B). MIB-1 immunoreactivity was marked in the epithelium/epithelial glands, moderate in the stroma and very weak in the blood vessels (Figure 10). CD 34 (Figure 11) and CA15-3 (Figure 12) immuno-reactivity was marked in the stroma and absent in the remaining compartments examined.

Figure 1. Micrographs of NGF immunostaining in human normal gallbladder (1A) and Gallbladder Carcinoma (1B). NGF shows an evident immunoreactivity in the epithelial glands (g) and in the blood vessels (v), weak in the epithelium (e), and in the normal gallbladder (1A). In gallbladder carcinoma NGF is highly detectable in the epithelium (e) and stroma (s), only moderate in in the blood vessels (v) (1B). Figure 2. Micrographs of TrKA immunostaining in human normal gallbladder (2A) and Gallbladder Carcinoma (2B). In the normal gallbladder TrKA shows an evident reaction in the epithelium (e)/epithelial glands (g) but an absence in the blood vessels (v) and stroma (s) (2A). TrKA expression in gallbladder carcinoma is marked in the epithelium (e)/epithelial glands (g) but absent in blood vessels (v) and stroma (s) (2B). Figure 3. Micrographs of p75 immunostaining in human normal gallbladder (3A) and Gallbladder Carcinoma (3B). P75 expression is generally absent in normal gallbladder (3A), evident in the epithelium (e) and stromal compartment (s), but only moderate in blood vessels (v) (3B).

Figure 4 ­– 5. Micrographs of BDNF immunostaining in human normal gallbladder (4A – 5A) and Gallbladder Carcinoma (4B – 5B). BDNF expression is evident in epithelium (e)/epithelial glands (g) and moderate in stromal compartment (s) (4A – 5A). In gallbladder carcinoma BDNF shows a marked expression in the epithelium (e) and stroma (s), moderate in the epithelial glands (g) and weak in blood vessels (v) (4B – 5B). Figure 6. Micrographs of TrKB immunostaining in human normal gallbladder (6A) and Gallbladder Carcinoma (6B). TrKB expression is moderate in the stroma (s) and weak in the epithelium (e), and in normal gallbladder (6A), while it is evident in the stroma (s) in gallbladder carcinoma (6B).

Figure 7. Micrographs of NT-3 immunostaining in human normal gallbladder (7A) and Gallbladder Carcinoma (7B). NT-3 is evident in all the compartments analysed (epithelium (e)/epithelial glands (g), blood vessels (v), stroma (s)) in normal gallbladder (7A), as well as in gallbladder carcinoma (7B). Figure 8. Micrographs of NT-4 immunostaining in human normal gallbladder (8A) and Gallbladder Carcinoma (8B). NT-4 is generally absent in the normal gallbladder in the compartments described (8A), but weak in the stroma (s) in the gallbladder carcinoma (8B). Figure 9. Micrographs of TrKC immunostaining in human normal gallbladder (9A) and Gallbladder Carcinoma (9B). TrKC is weakly expressed in the epithelium (e)/epithelial glands (g) and stroma (s) in normal gallbladder (9A), but also weak only in the stroma (s) of gallbladder carcinoma (9B).

Table 1. Human normal gall bladder.

Table 2. Gallbladder carcinoma.

Discussion

NGF plays an inflammatory role,14 probably due to the direct action of NGF on mast cells and sensory neurones, as proposed by Woolf.15 Neurotrophins (NTs) are neurotrophic signalling polypeptides which include nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived growth factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), NT-4/5 and NT-6, the latter apparently being specific to fish.16 The biological effects of NTs are mediated by the binding with two families of membrane receptors, the high affinity tyrosine kinase (TrK) and low affinity p75 receptor (p75NT receptor).6 TrKA is specifically activated by NGF, whereas TrKB and TrKC are primarily receptors for BDNF and NT-3 respectively.6 The physiological role of NTs in the development, maintenance and regeneration of the sympathetic and sensory nervous system has been well established6,16 and NGF mainly induces differentiation and decreases growth rate in a variety of neoplastic cells of neurogenic and non-neurogenic origin.17 Rasi et al. demonstrated that NGF was highly expressed not only in hepatocarcinoma (HCC) but also in early preneoplastic lesions, suggesting that NGF may have a role in the progression of HCC.18,19 We have investigated the possible role of NTs in the physiopathology of the gallbladder, especially in carcinoma specimens, together with the expression profile analysis of some tumor markers such as MIB-1 (anti Ki-67), CD34 and CA15-3 whose role has been ascertained, but not clearly defined, in previous reports.10,11,12 Ki-67 expression appears to be a good diagnostic indicator for gallbladder carcinoma but not a prognostic factor for survival in patients with gallbladder carcinoma.10 Immunoreactivity for MIB-1 antigen is low in benign lesions such as chronic cholecystitis or hyperplasia when compared with gallbladder carcinoma, suggesting that epithelial hyperplasia with increased cellular proliferative activity plays an important role in carcinogenesis. In in situ gallbladder carcinoma MIB-1 expression was low compared with lesions showing more advanced gallbladder wall infiltration.20,21 Shrestha et al. found that patients with gallbladder carcinoma expressing high Ki-67 immunoreactivity had a worse postoperative prognosis than those who did not, although there was no relationship between Ki-67 immunoreactivity and patient survival.20 Our results suggest a marked expression of its immunoreactivity within the epithelium/ epithelial glands of patients affected by gallbladder carcinoma, which partially concords with the results described by Hidalgo Grau et al.,10 confirming that epithelial hyperplasia with increased epithelial glands cellular proliferative activity plays a direct role in the tumorigenesis process.10 In fact, although MIB-1 (Ki-67 antigen) cannot be individually assumed to be a reliable prognostic marker, the consistent immunoreaction level observed in the epithelial layer and in the epithelial glands of neoplastic specimens (compared to the total absence detected in the control cases) may be considered an important factor in the morphological differential diagnosis of gallbladder clinical features. CD34 antigen reveals only an appreciable immunoreactivity in the stromal compartment of neoplastic specimens, according to the work of Tanaka,12 which demonstrates that immunostaining for CD34 is negative, both in controls cases and in gallbladder cancer cells more specifically, since hematopoietic progenitor cells may differentiate into hepatic progenitor cells, hepatic progenitor cells can be identified by a hematopoietic stem cell marker, CD34, before they differentiate into hepatoblasts.12 Thus, we may confirm that CD34 is not a significant prognostic marker for evaluating the clinicopathological progression of gallbladder carcinoma.
Concerning the prognostic value of CA15-3, we may affirm that the sensitivity of this marker is more pronounced compared to MIB-1 and CD34. In fact, as Shukla’s study,11 CA15-3 appears to be a reliable marker for discriminating gallbladder carcinomas from cholelithiasis cases, but it is less sensitive when used individually in gallbladder carcinoma.
To conclude, we have demonstrated that in gallbladder carcinoma an increased expression of NGF, TrKA and BDNF is clearly visible, suggesting a direct role of these neurotrophic factors in the transformation and progression of neoplastic cells of the gallbladder tissue. We also investigated the expression of MIB-1, CD34 and CA 15 -3 and our results showed that, taken individually, they can be useful in the differential diagnosis of gallbladder clinical features, discriminating patients with primitive gallbladder carcinoma from those with cholelithiasis, but when considered as a whole, (especially MIB-1 and CA 15- 3) they can represent a significant panel of prognostic factors, for evaluating the clinico-pathological progression of gallbladder carcinoma.

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