Z Gastroenterol 2010; 48 - P071
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1263515

Regeneration profiling of human gastric glands: differences between fundic and antral surface mucous cells

I Kouznetsova 1, F Meyer 2, T Kalinski 3, W Hoffmann 1
  • 1Universitätsklinikum A.ö.R.; Institut für Molekularbiologie & Medizinische Chemie, Magdeburg, Germany
  • 2Universitätsklinikum A.ö.R.; Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- & Gefäßchirurgie, Magdeburg, Germany
  • 3Universitätsklinikum A.ö.R.; Institut für Pathologie, Magdeburg, Germany

Introduction: Maintenance of the surface integrity of mucous epithelia is vital for physiological functions of many organs such as the stomach. The human gastric mucosa can be divided into three different functional regions, i.e., the cardia, the corpus, and the antrum. Classically, the cellular constituents are defined as surface mucous cells (SMCs)/gastric pit cells, oxyntic cells, mucous neck and antral gland cells, zymogenic cells and endocrine cells. Here, a first expression profile of human gastric glands is presented using RT-PCR analysis after laser microdissection.

Material and Methods:

  • Double immunfluorescence

  • RT-PCR

  • Laser Microdissection

Results: There was a double localization of TFF1 and TFF3 in the gastric cardia, corpus or antrum using anti-TFF1 antiserum/FITC-label (green – see representative panel) and anti-TFF3 antiserum/Cy3-label (red). RT-PCR analysis: GKN1, GKN2, TFF1 or TFF3 expression was monitored in surgical specimens from the cardia (Ca), the corpus (C) or the antrum (A) of different individuals. RT-PCR analysis after laser microdissection: Cells were isolated from three different regions along the gastric fundic gland axis. Representative immunofluorescence panels („navigation slide[s]“): Cells were stained with monoclonal anti-Ki-67 antibody and Cy3 label indicated in red whereas nuclei were conterstained with DAPI indicated in blue (different panel). In particular, region I contains superficial surface mucous cells, region II the Ki-67 positive cells, and region III the antral gland cells. In addition, RT-PCR analysis showed that GKN1, GKN2, TFF1, TFF2, TFF3, MUC5AC, MUC6, PGA, PGC, IF, or Gastrin expression was monitored (each region was analyzed from the same three individuals).

Conclusion: TFF3, and not TFF1, is synthesized in deeper laying SMCs. SMCs in the gastric corpus and antrum differ in their expression profiles. There is a different regeneration of SMCs in the human gastric corpus and antrum. Maturation of superficial SMCs in the gastric cardia und antrum occurs stepwise via trans-differentiation of TFF3-expressing progenitor cells.