Thymosin ß4 expression in colorectal polyps and adenomas

Abstract

Objective: Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) is a ubiquitous peptide that plays pivotal roles in the cytoskeletal system and in cell differentiation. Recently, a role for Tβ4 has been proposed in experimental and human carcinogenesis, including gastrointestinal cancer. This study was aimed at evaluating the relationship between Tβ4 immunoreactivity and the initial steps of carcinogenesis.

Methods: In total, 60 intestinal biopsies, including 10 hyperplastic polyps, 10 sessile serrated adenomas/polyps, 15 colorectal adenomas with low-grade dysplasia, 15 adenomas with high-grade dysplasia, 15 adenocarcinomas and 10 samples of normal colon mucosa, were analyzed for Tβ4 expression by immunohistochemistry.

Results: Weak cytoplasmic reactivity for Tβ4 was detected in the normal colon mucosa. No reactivity for Tβ4 was found in hyperplastic and sessile serrated polyps/adenomas. Tβ4 expression was observed in 10/15 colorectal adenocarcinomas. In adenomas with low-grade dysplasia, Tβ4 immunoreactivity was mainly detected in dysplastic glands but was absent in hyperplastic glands. Tβ4 immunoreactivity was characterized by spot-like perinuclear staining. In high-grade dysplastic polyps, immunostaining for Tβ4 appeared diffuse throughout the entire cytoplasm of dysplastic cells. Spot-like perinuclear reactivity was detected in adenocarcinoma tumor cells.

Conclusions: Our study shows for the first time that Tβ4 is expressed during different steps of colon carcinogenesis. The shift of Tβ4 immunolocalization from low-grade to high-grade dysplastic glands suggests a role for Tβ4 in colorectal carcinogenesis. However, the real meaning of Tβ4 reactivity in dysplastic intestinal epithelium remains unknown.

Figure 1

Hyperplastic and serrated hyperplastic polyps: A), B) No immunoreactivity for Tβ₄ was observed in hyperplastic and serrated hyperplastic glands of the polyps analyzed. Scattered mast cells showed an intense and granular positivity for Tβ₄ (OM X250 and X 100). Adenoma with low-grade dysplasia: C) at low magnification, the diffuse cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for Tβ₄ was restricted to the dysplastic crypt epithelium (OM x100); D) at higher magnification, three main patterns of reactivity for Tβ₄ were observed in the dysplastic glands: perinuclear spots, cytoplasmic granules and homogeneous cytoplasmic immunostaining (OM x400); adenoma with high-grade dysplasia: E) at low magnification, intense cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for Tβ₄ was observed in the cytoplasm of dysplastic cells (OMX100); F) at higher magnification, diffuse and homogeneous Tβ4 immunoreactivity was observed in the cytoplasm of dysplastic glands (OMx400); adenocarcinoma: G) at higher magnification, peri-nuclear spot-like reactivity for Tβ4 was observed in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic nest (OMx400); H) perinuclear spot-like reactivity for Tβ4 was observed in the cytoplasm of the infiltrating tumor glands. Fine granular immunoreactivity was detected in the stroma surrounding the infiltrating tumor glands (OMx250).