AIM： To investigate β-catenin expression in patients with intestinal metaplasia, and to look for a possible relationship between β-catenin expression and either epithelial proliferation values or Helicobacter pylo...AIM： To investigate β-catenin expression in patients with intestinal metaplasia, and to look for a possible relationship between β-catenin expression and either epithelial proliferation values or Helicobacter pylori （ H pylori） infection.METHODS： Twenty patients with complete type intestinal metaplasia were studied. β-Catenin expression and epithelial cell proliferation in antral mucosa were assessed using an immunohistochemical analysis. H pylori infection was detected by histology and a rapid urease test.RESULTS： Reduced β-catenin expression on the surface of metaplastic cells was detected in 13 （65%） out of 20 patients. Moreover, in eight （40%） patients intranuclear expression of β-catenin was found. When patients were analyzed according to H pylori infection, the prevalence of both β-catenin reduction at the cell surface and its intranuclear localization did not significantly differ between infected and uninfected patients. Cell proliferation was higher in patients with intranuclear β-catenin expression as compared to the remaining patients, although the difference failed to reach the statistical significance （36±8.9 vs 27.2±11.4, P= 0.06）. On the contrary, a similar cell proliferation value was observed between patients with reduced expression of β-catenin on cell surface and those with a normal expression （28.1±11.8 vs 26.1±8.8, P= 0.7）.H pylori infection significantly increased cell proliferation （33.3±10.2% vs 24.6±7.4% , respectively, P= 0.04）.CONCLUSION： Both cell surface reduction and intranuclear accumulation of β-catenin were detected in intestinal metaplasia. The intranuclear localization of β-catenin increases cell proliferation. H pylori infection does not seem to play a direct role in β-catenin alterations, whilst it significantly increases cell proliferation.展开更多
文摘AIM： To investigate β-catenin expression in patients with intestinal metaplasia, and to look for a possible relationship between β-catenin expression and either epithelial proliferation values or Helicobacter pylori （ H pylori） infection.METHODS： Twenty patients with complete type intestinal metaplasia were studied. β-Catenin expression and epithelial cell proliferation in antral mucosa were assessed using an immunohistochemical analysis. H pylori infection was detected by histology and a rapid urease test.RESULTS： Reduced β-catenin expression on the surface of metaplastic cells was detected in 13 （65%） out of 20 patients. Moreover, in eight （40%） patients intranuclear expression of β-catenin was found. When patients were analyzed according to H pylori infection, the prevalence of both β-catenin reduction at the cell surface and its intranuclear localization did not significantly differ between infected and uninfected patients. Cell proliferation was higher in patients with intranuclear β-catenin expression as compared to the remaining patients, although the difference failed to reach the statistical significance （36±8.9 vs 27.2±11.4, P= 0.06）. On the contrary, a similar cell proliferation value was observed between patients with reduced expression of β-catenin on cell surface and those with a normal expression （28.1±11.8 vs 26.1±8.8, P= 0.7）.H pylori infection significantly increased cell proliferation （33.3±10.2% vs 24.6±7.4% , respectively, P= 0.04）.CONCLUSION： Both cell surface reduction and intranuclear accumulation of β-catenin were detected in intestinal metaplasia. The intranuclear localization of β-catenin increases cell proliferation. H pylori infection does not seem to play a direct role in β-catenin alterations, whilst it significantly increases cell proliferation.
