TY - JOUR
T1 - Reduced Shh expression in TFF2-overexpressing lesions of the gastric fundus under hypochlorhydric conditions
AU - Minegishi, Y.
AU - Suzuki, H.
AU - Arakawa, M.
AU - Fukushima, Y.
AU - Masaoka, T.
AU - Ishikawa, T.
AU - Wright, N. A.
AU - Hibi, T.
PY - 2007/10
Y1 - 2007/10
N2 - Expression of sonic hedgehog (Shh), a morphogen for the gastric fundic glands, is reduced in the atrophic mucosa that develops in association with Helicobacter pylori infection, resulting in impaired differentiation of the fundic gland cells, increased expression of trefoil factor family 2 (TFF2) and the formation of spasmolytic polypeptide (SP)-expressing metaplasia (SPEM), a preneoplastic lesion. However, it is still unresolved whether H. pylori-induced inflammation and the resultant reduction in parietal cell number or reduced parietal cell function per se reduces Shh expression. The present study was designed to clarify the expression of Shh and TFF2 in the context of parietal cell dysfunction in the absence of inflammation, using histamine H2 receptor-knockout (H2R-null) mice and an acid exposure model. Age-matched H2R-null mice and wild-type (WT) mice were used. The expression of Shh and TFF2 mRNA was quantified by quantitative RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry was also performed to detect the expression of Shh, TFF2 and cell markers. To study the effects of acid exposure, HCl solution was administered to the animals. The H2R-null mice exhibited higher gastric pH, increased TFF2 expression and reduced Shh expression. Impaired mucous neck-to-zymogenic cell differentiation was observed in the H 2R-null mice. Furthermore, Shh expression increased in the presence of gastric acid and showed a significant correlation with gastric surface pH. In conclusion, our results suggest that persistent parietal cell dysfunction alone (suppressed gastric acid secretion), in the absence of inflammation or parietal cell loss caused by H. pylori infection, may be sufficient to down-regulate Shh expression in TFF2-overexpressing preneoplastic lesions of the gastric fundus. Since exposure to acid restored fundic Shh expression, appropriate gastric acid secretion may play an important role in the morphogen dynamics involved in the maintenance of gastric fundic gland homeostasis.
AB - Expression of sonic hedgehog (Shh), a morphogen for the gastric fundic glands, is reduced in the atrophic mucosa that develops in association with Helicobacter pylori infection, resulting in impaired differentiation of the fundic gland cells, increased expression of trefoil factor family 2 (TFF2) and the formation of spasmolytic polypeptide (SP)-expressing metaplasia (SPEM), a preneoplastic lesion. However, it is still unresolved whether H. pylori-induced inflammation and the resultant reduction in parietal cell number or reduced parietal cell function per se reduces Shh expression. The present study was designed to clarify the expression of Shh and TFF2 in the context of parietal cell dysfunction in the absence of inflammation, using histamine H2 receptor-knockout (H2R-null) mice and an acid exposure model. Age-matched H2R-null mice and wild-type (WT) mice were used. The expression of Shh and TFF2 mRNA was quantified by quantitative RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry was also performed to detect the expression of Shh, TFF2 and cell markers. To study the effects of acid exposure, HCl solution was administered to the animals. The H2R-null mice exhibited higher gastric pH, increased TFF2 expression and reduced Shh expression. Impaired mucous neck-to-zymogenic cell differentiation was observed in the H 2R-null mice. Furthermore, Shh expression increased in the presence of gastric acid and showed a significant correlation with gastric surface pH. In conclusion, our results suggest that persistent parietal cell dysfunction alone (suppressed gastric acid secretion), in the absence of inflammation or parietal cell loss caused by H. pylori infection, may be sufficient to down-regulate Shh expression in TFF2-overexpressing preneoplastic lesions of the gastric fundus. Since exposure to acid restored fundic Shh expression, appropriate gastric acid secretion may play an important role in the morphogen dynamics involved in the maintenance of gastric fundic gland homeostasis.
KW - Gastric acid
KW - Morphogen
KW - Parietal cell
KW - Sonic hedgehog
KW - Zymogenic cell
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U2 - 10.1002/path.2221
DO - 10.1002/path.2221
M3 - Article
C2 - 17763396
AN - SCOPUS:35348941302
SN - 0022-3417
VL - 213
SP - 161
EP - 169
JO - Investigative and Cell Pathology
JF - Investigative and Cell Pathology
IS - 2
ER -