Alternative ultrastructural localization of Dolichos biflorus lectin binding sites in proton secreting parietal cells of mice

Loss of E-cadherin in mouse gastric epithelial cells induces signet ring-like cells, a possible precursor lesion of diffuse gastric cancer

Alterations in the E-cadherin gene are associated with sporadic and hereditary diffuse-type gastric cancer. To determine how the loss of function of E-cadherin affects gastric epithelial cell phenotypes, we generated transgenic mice using the Cre-loxP system in which the E-cadherin gene is specifically knocked out in the parietal cell lineage. In the transgenic mice, expression of E-cadherin was lost or reduced in proton pump-expressing parietal cells, which became round in shape and were pushed out of the glands to accumulate in the stromal area. Additionally, gastric mucosa exhibited hyperplasia from 3 months in the mice, some cells of which later became positive for trefoil factor 2, a marker of spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia. From 6 months, E-cadherin-negative/proton pump-negative cells appeared from the parietal cell lineage, which increased in number to form cell clusters. Moreover, signet ring-like cells, which are morphologically similar to signet ring carcinoma cells, were found in the cell clusters from 12 months. However, no invasive gastric adenocarcinomas were found in the E-cadherin-deficient mice, even at 24 months or later. These data indicate that the loss of E-cadherin induces possible pre-cancerous lesions in the gastric mucosa but may not be sufficient for its malignant conversion.

Glycoconjugate expression in the chick embryonic chorioallantoic membrane: comparisons of the chorionic ectoderm and allantoic endoderm

BACKGROUND

The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the chick embryo expands during embryogenesis to meet the increased oxygen demands during growth and differentiation. Temporal and spatial glycosylation patterns of CAM ectodermal and endodermal proteins likely contribute to differentiation of the functional attributes of the CAM.

METHODS

Using lectins for light and electron microscopic observations, we studied the patterns of glycoconjugate expression on the ectoderm and endoderm of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the chick at days 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, and 10 of morphogenesis. For light microscopy, samples of unfixed CAM were incubated with the following FITC lectins: Con A, DBA, GSA-I, GSA-II, PNA, SBA, UEA-I, and WGA.

RESULTS

All lectins, except GSA-I and -II, gave positive results. The positive lectins, labeled with HRP, served to ultrastructurally localize PNA, SBA, and WGA, but not DBA binding to the luminal surface of the endoderm. UEA-I and Con A bound similarly except on day 10 when UEA-I no longer bound. On the ectodermal surface, only WGA bound at all times studied. PNA and SBA binding were present from days 5.0 to 6.0 but absent at days 4.5 and 10. DBA binding occurred through day 5.0 but was absent thereafter. UEA-I bound to the ectoderm at days 4.5, 5.0, and 10 but not days 5.5 and 6.0. Con A bound only on days 5.0 and 10.

CONCLUSION

That the ultrastructurally similar ectoderm and endoderm of the CAM display functional differences conforms to the hypothesis that differential expression of glycoconjugate microdomains likely contributes to such functional specialization.

Effect of proton pump inhibitor, omeprazole, on expression of rat parietal cell specific carbohydrate antigen, type 2 chain N-acetyllactosamine

The effect of a proton pump inhibitor, omeprazole, on the rat gastric mucosal expression of carbohydrate antigens was studied. Type 2 chain N-acetyllactosamine was detected specifically on the apicocanalicular cell membranes of parietal cells. Pretreatment of rats with omeprazole profoundly suppressed the antigen expression, which followed the inhibition of gastric acid secretion. When omeprazole was discontinued, the antigen was reexpressed, which preceded the restoration of acid secretion. The antigen-negative tissues became antigen-positive when they were desialylated. Gastric membrane vesicles from the normal and omeprazole-treated rats were antigen-positive and -negative, respectively. SDS-PAGE revealed that a glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 64-78 kDa carried type 2 chain N-acetyllactosamine. In the omeprazole-treated rats, the same molecular weight glycoprotein was positively immunostained only after desialylation. We concluded that: (1) the expression of type 2 chain N-acetyllactosamine was closely correlated with gastric acid secretion, and (2) the inhibition of acid secretion was accompanied by the sialylation of the parietal cell membrane glycoprotein.