Korean J Gastroenterol.  2008 Dec;52(6):359-367.

Immunohistochemical Analysis of Nuclear Factor, p38, and Cyclin D1 Proteins in Premalignant Lesions and Carcinomas of the Colorectal Mucosa

• Lee SD
• Lee TJ
• Park ES

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-kappa B p65), nuclear factor-kappa B1 p50 (NF-kappa B p50) have been shown to play a role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine production, and oncogenesis. Recently, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ NF-kappa B/ cyclin D1 signaling pathway has been shown to play an important part in the pathogenesis of human cancers. This study was designed to investigate the expression of NF-kappa B p65, NF-kappa B p50, p38 MAPK alpha, and cyclin D1 proteins in premalignant lesions of colon and colorectal adenocarcinoma.
METHODS
Paraffin sections of 20 normal mucosa, 20 low-grade tubular adenoma, 20 high-grade tubular adenoma and 64 adenocarcinoma tissues were analysed immunohistochemically for the expression of NF-kappa B p65, NF-kappa B p50, p38 MAPK alpha, and cyclin D1 proteins.
RESULTS
The expression of NF-kappa B p65, NF-kappa B p50, and p38 MAPK alpha proteins were significantly higher in adenocarcinoma tissue in comparison with that in normal mucosa, low-grade tubular adenoma, and high-grade tubular adenoma tissues. Expression of NF-kappa B p50 was more frequent in poorly differentiated histologic grade, presence of nodal metastasis, and advanced stage. Expression of p38 MAPK alpha protein was higher in advanced tumor stage, presence of nodal metastasis and advanced stage. Synchronous expression of NF-kappa B p65, NF-kappa B p50, p38 MAPK alpha, and cyclin D1 proteins were significantly higher in adenocarcinoma tissue. CONCULSIONS: With the increased expression of NF-kappa B p65, NF-kappa B p50, and p38 MAPK alpha proteins, p38 MAPK/ NF-kappa B/ cyclin D1 signaling pathway may play a role in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma.

Keyword

Carcinoma, Colorectal; NF-kappa B p65; NF-kappa B p50; p38 MAPK alpha; Cyclin D1

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma/enzymology/*metabolism/pathology
Colorectal Neoplasms/enzymology/*metabolism/pathology
Cyclin D1/immunology/*metabolism
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Female
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism
Male
Middle Aged
NF-kappa B/immunology/*metabolism
NF-kappa B p50 Subunit/immunology/metabolism
Neoplasm Staging
Precancerous Conditions/enzymology/*metabolism
Transcription Factor RelA/immunology/metabolism
p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism