The G cell

Development and validation of a prediction rule for estimating gastric cancer risk in the Chinese high-risk population: a nationwide multicentre study

OBJECTIVE

To develop a gastric cancer (GC) risk prediction rule as an initial prescreening tool to identify individuals with a high risk prior to gastroscopy.

DESIGN

This was a nationwide multicentre cross-sectional study. Individuals aged 40-80 years who went to hospitals for a GC screening gastroscopy were recruited. Serum pepsinogen (PG) I, PG II, gastrin-17 (G-17) and anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody concentrations were tested prior to endoscopy. Eligible participants (n=14 929) were randomly assigned into the derivation and validation cohorts, with a ratio of 2:1. Risk factors for GC were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses and an optimal prediction rule was then settled.

RESULTS

The novel GC risk prediction rule comprised seven variables (age, sex, PG I/II ratio, G-17 level, H. pylori infection, pickled food and fried food), with scores ranging from 0 to 25. The observed prevalence rates of GC in the derivation cohort at low-risk (≤11), medium-risk (12-16) or high-risk (17-25) group were 1.2%, 4.4% and 12.3%, respectively (p<0.001).When gastroscopy was used for individuals with medium risk and high risk, 70.8% of total GC cases and 70.3% of early GC cases were detected. While endoscopy requirements could be reduced by 66.7% according to the low-risk proportion. The prediction rule owns a good discrimination, with an area under curve of 0.76, or calibration (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The developed and validated prediction rule showed good performance on identifying individuals at a higher risk in a Chinese high-risk population. Future studies are needed to validate its efficacy in a larger population.

A Serological Biopsy Using Five Stomach-Specific Circulating Biomarkers for Gastric Cancer Risk Assessment: A Multi-Phase Study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to assess a serological biopsy using five stomach-specific circulating biomarkers-pepsinogen I (PGI), PGII, PGI/II ratio, anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antibody, and gastrin-17 (G-17)-for identifying high-risk individuals and predicting risk of developing gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

Among 12,112 participants with prospective follow-up from an ongoing population-based screening program using both serology and gastroscopy in China, we conducted a multi-phase study involving a cross-sectional analysis, a follow-up analysis, and an integrative risk prediction modeling analysis.

RESULTS

In the cross-sectional analysis, the five biomarkers (especially PGII, the PGI/II ratio, and H. pylori sero-positivity) were associated with the presence of precancerous gastric lesions or GC at enrollment. In the follow-up analysis, low PGI levels and PGI/II ratios were associated with higher risk of developing GC, and both low (<0.5 pmol/l) and high (>4.7 pmol/l) G-17 levels were associated with higher risk of developing GC, suggesting a J-shaped association. In the risk prediction modeling analysis, the five biomarkers combined yielded a C statistic of 0.803 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.789-0.816) and improved prediction beyond traditional risk factors (C statistic from 0.580 to 0.811, P<0.001) for identifying precancerous lesions at enrollment, and higher serological biopsy scores based on the five biomarkers at enrollment were associated with higher risk of developing GC during follow-up (P for trend <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

A serological biopsy composed of the five stomach-specific circulating biomarkers could be used to identify high-risk individuals for further diagnostic gastroscopy, and to stratify individuals' risk of developing GC and thus to guide targeted screening and precision prevention.

Syndromic versus non-syndromic sporadic gastrin-producing neuroendocrine tumors of the duodenum: comparison of pathological features and biological behavior

Sporadic gastrin-producing neuroendocrine tumors of the duodenum present either with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) or with unspecific symptoms. While syndromic gastrin-producing neuroendocrine tumors often show metastases at the time of diagnosis, those without a syndrome do not. The aim of the study was to search for clinicopathological features that may distinguish the two categories of gastrin-producing duodenal tumors. In a retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical and pathological data in a series of 41 patients with syndromic (i.e., gastrinomas) or non-syndromic duodenal gastrin-producing neuroendocrine tumors (ns-gas-NETs). Twenty-four (59 %) of the 41 patients had tumors that were associated with a ZES and were classified as gastrinomas. These tumors showed a higher Ki-67 index than that of the ns-gas-NETs (1.74 vs. 0.85 %, p = 0.012). In addition, they had more lymph node metastases (75 vs. 6 %, p < 0.001) and showed liver metastases and thus presented much more frequently in TNM stage ≥III (75 vs. 6 %; p < 0.001) than their non-syndromic counterparts. Gastrinomas were removed surgically, ns-gas-NETs endoscopically. We did not observe any significant differences in overall survival or recurrence of disease. Duodenal gastrinomas show no clear morphological features that distinguish them from their non-syndromic counterparts. However, the patients with gastrinomas present in a more advanced stage of disease and need surgical treatment, while non-syndromic gastrin-producing duodenal NETs may be cured by complete endoscopical removal.

A comprehensive evaluation of fasting serum gastrin-17 as a predictor of diseased stomach in Chinese population

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Fasting serum gastrin-17 (FsG17) is considered as a noninvasive biomarker reflecting the structure and functional status of gastric mucosa, but its clinical utility remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate FsG17 comprehensively: establish the ranges and cut-off points of FsG17 levels in different gastric diseases, identify their influencing factors, and investigate the accuracy of FsG17 for identifying diseased stomach.

METHODS

The study included 4064 participants from Northern China between 2008 and 2013. FsG17 and serum Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed by receiver operator characteristic curves. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the best predictors of gastric histopathological conditions.

RESULTS

Median FsG17 levels in healthy, non-atrophic, atrophic, and cancerous stomachs were 1.8, 4.0, 3.8, and 6.1 pmol/l, respectively. Age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, H. pylori infection, and predominant lesion site were factors that affected FsG17 levels. The optimal cut-off values for FsG17 were 3.0 pmol/l (sensitivity of 59.3% and specificity of 67.3%) for discriminating between healthy stomach and diseased stomach and 10.7 pmol/l (sensitivity of 37% and specificity of 83.7%) for discriminating between cancerous stomach and cancer-free stomach; the screening accuracy was higher (sensitivity of 50.0% and specificity of 83.0%) for gastric cancer in the corpus. Multivariate analysis showed that FsG17, gender, age, and H. pylori infection were independent predictors of cancerous stomach.

CONCLUSION

With the progression from health stomach to malignancy, FsG17 levels significantly increased and were influenced by other factors. FsG17 combined with age, gender, and H. pylori infection could distinguish between cancerous stomach and cancer-free stomach. The results will enhance our understanding of the potential clinical utility of FsG17.

Temporal changes in serum biomarkers and risk for progression of gastric precancerous lesions: a longitudinal study

Effectively managing precancerous lesions is crucial to reducing the gastric cancer (GC) burden. We evaluated associations of temporal changes in multiple serological markers (pepsinogen I [PGI], PGII, PGI/II ratio, gastrin-17 and anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG) with risk for progression of gastric precancerous lesions. From 1997 to 2011, repeated esophagogastroduodenoscopies with gastric mucosal biopsies and blood sample collections were conducted on 2,039 participants (5,070 person-visits) in the Zhuanghe Gastric Diseases Screening Program, Liaoning, China. Serum biomarkers were measured using ELISA, and gastric biopsies were evaluated using standardized histologic criteria. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using generalized estimating equations for correlated binary outcomes. The ORs for progression of gastric conditions comparing those whose serum PGI, PGII, and anti-H. pylori IgG levels increased ≥ 50% relative to those whose decreased ≥ 50% were, respectively 1.67 (CI, 1.22-2.28), 1.80 (CI, 1.40-2.33) and 1.93 (CI, 1.48-2.52). The OR for those whose PGI/II ratio decreased ≥ 50% relative to those whose increased ≥ 50% was 1.40 (CI, 1.08-1.81), and for those whose PGII and anti-H. pylori IgG levels both increased ≥ 50% relative to those whose levels both decreased ≥ 50% the OR was 3.18 (CI, 2.05-4.93). Changes in gastrin-17 were not statistically significantly associated with progression. These findings suggest that temporal changes in serum PGI, PGII, PGI/II ratio, and anti-H. pylori IgG levels (especially PGII and anti-H. pylori IgG combined) may be useful for assessing and managing risk for progression of gastric precancerous lesions.

Gastrin: a distinct fate of neurogenin3 positive progenitor cells in the embryonic pancreas

Neurogenin3(+) (Ngn3(+)) progenitor cells in the developing pancreas give rise to five endocrine cell types secreting insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide and ghrelin. Gastrin is a hormone produced primarily by G-cells in the stomach, where it functions to stimulate acid secretion by gastric parietal cells. Gastrin is expressed in the embryonic pancreas and is common in islet cell tumors, but the lineage and regulators of pancreatic gastrin(+) cells are not known. We report that gastrin is abundantly expressed in the embryonic pancreas and disappears soon after birth. Some gastrin(+) cells in the developing pancreas co-express glucagon, ghrelin or pancreatic polypeptide, but many gastrin(+) cells do not express any other islet hormone. Pancreatic gastrin(+) cells express the transcription factors Nkx6.1, Nkx2.2 and low levels of Pdx1, and derive from Ngn3(+) endocrine progenitor cells as shown by genetic lineage tracing. Using mice deficient for key transcription factors we show that gastrin expression depends on Ngn3, Nkx2.2, NeuroD1 and Arx, but not Pax4 or Pax6. Finally, gastrin expression is induced upon differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to pancreatic endocrine cells expressing insulin. Thus, gastrin(+) cells are a distinct endocrine cell type in the pancreas and an alternative fate of Ngn3+ cells.

Physiological and clinical significance of enterochromaffin-like cell activation in the regulation of gastric acid secretion

Gastric acid plays an important role in digesting food (especially protein), iron absorption, and destroying swallowed micro-organisms. H+ is secreted by the oxyntic parietal cells and its secretion is regulated by endocrine, neurocrine and paracrine mechanisms. Gastrin released from the antral G cell is the principal physiological stimulus of gastric acid secretion. Activation of the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell is accepted as the main source of histamine participating in the regulation of acid secretion and is functionally and trophically controlled by gastrin, which is mediated by gastrin/CCK-2 receptors expressed on the ECL cell. However, long-term hypergastrinemia will induce ECL cell hyperplasia and probably carcinoids. Clinically, potent inhibitors of acid secretion have been prescribed widely to patients with acid-related disorders. Long-term potent acid inhibition evokes a marked increase in plasma gastrin levels, leading to enlargement of oxyntic mucosa with ECL cell hyperplasia. Accordingly, the induction of ECL cell hyperplasia and carcinoids remains a topic of considerable concern, especially in long-term use. In addition, the activation of ECL cells also induces another clinical concern, i.e., rebound acid hypersecretion after acid inhibition. Recent experimental and clinical findings indicate that the activation of ECL cells plays a critical role both physiologically and clinically in the regulation of gastric acid secretion.

Expression of NF-kappaB in Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric mucosa in humans and causes chronic gastritis. NF-kappaB has a key role as a mediator in mucosal inflammation. In this study, we examined the expression of NF-kappaB in the antral epithelial cells of H. pylori-infected and H. pylori-uninfected biopsies and examined these processes in relationship with grade and activity of gastritis, density of H. pylori, presence of the intestinal metaplasia, and atrophy. Fifty biopsies (35 H. pylori-positive patients and 15 H. pylori-negative controls) were studied. NF-kappaB immunohistochemical stain was performed. NF-kappaB activity in H. pylori-infected biopsies were markedly enhanced compared with uninflamed biopsies (P = 0.001). We also found positive correlation NF-kappaB expression with severity of gastritis (according to Sydney score) (P = 0.001), activity of gastritis (P = 0.046) and H. pylori load (P < 0.001), and atrophy (P = 0.004). We did not find a significant relationship between NF-kappaB and the presence of intestinal metaplasia (P = 0.355). These findings suggested that expression of NF-kappaB has an important role in H. pylori gastritis.

Ciprofibrate stimulates the gastrin-producing cell by acting luminally on antral PPAR-alpha

The lipid-lowering drug ciprofibrate stimulates gastrin-producing cells in the rat stomach without lowering gastric acidity. Although suggested to be a luminal action on antral peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha), the mechanism is still not fully elucidated. Gastric bypass was surgically prepared in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Gastric-bypassed and sham-operated rats were either given ciprofibrate (50 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) in methocel) or vehicle alone for 7 wk. PPAR-alpha knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were either given ciprofibrate (500 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) in methocel) or vehicle alone for 2 wk. The concentration of gastrin in blood was analyzed. Antral G cell density and gastrin mRNA abundance were determined by using immunostaining and Northern blot analysis. Ciprofibrate did not raise plasma gastrin or G cell density in gastric-bypassed rats, although the gastrin mRNA level was slightly increased. In contrast, ciprofibrate induced hypergastrinemia, a 50% increase in G cell density, and a threefold increase in gastrin mRNA in sham-operated rats. In PPAR-alpha KO mice, ciprofibrate did not raise G cell density or the gastrin mRNA level. The serum gastrin level was reduced by ciprofibrate. In WT mice, ciprofibrate induced hypergastrinemia, a doubling of G cell density, and a threefold increase in gastrin mRNA. Comparing animals dosed with vehicle only, PPAR-alpha KO mice had higher serum gastrin concentration than WT mice. We conclude that the main effects of ciprofibrate on G cells are mediated from the antrum lumen, and the mechanism is dependent on PPAR-alpha. The results indicate that PPAR-alpha may have a role in the physiological regulation of gastrin release.

Cholinergically stimulated gastric acid secretion is mediated by M(3) and M(5) but not M(1) muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in mice

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors play an important role in the regulation of gastric acid secretion stimulated by acetylcholine; nonetheless, the precise role of each receptor subtype (M(1)-M(5)) remains unclear. This study examined the involvement of M(1), M(3), and M(5) receptors in cholinergic regulation of acid secretion using muscarinic receptor knockout (KO) mice. Gastric acid secretion was measured in both mice subjected to acute gastric fistula production under urethane anesthesia and conscious mice that had previously undergone pylorus ligation. M(3) KO mice exhibited impaired gastric acid secretion in response to carbachol. Unexpectedly, M(1) KO mice exhibited normal intragastric pH, serum gastrin and mucosal histamine levels, and gastric acid secretion stimulated by carbachol, histamine, and gastrin. Pirenzepine, known as an M(1)-receptor antagonist, inhibited carbachol-stimulated gastric acid secretion in a dose-dependent manner in M(1) KO mice as well as in wild-type (WT) mice, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of pirenzepine on gastric acid secretion is independent of M(1)-receptor antagonism. Notably, M(5) KO mice exhibited both significantly lower carbachol-stimulated gastric acid secretion and histamine-secretory responses to carbachol compared with WT mice. RT-PCR analysis revealed M(5)-mRNA expression in the stomach, but not in either the fundic or antral mucosa. Consequently, cholinergic stimulation of gastric acid secretion is clearly mediated by M(3) (on parietal cells) and M(5) receptors (conceivably in the submucosal plexus), but not M(1) receptors.

Facile solid-phase synthesis of sulfated tyrosine-containing peptides: Part II. Total synthesis of human big gastrin-II and its C-terminal glycine-extended peptide (G34-Gly sulfate) by the solid-phase segment condensation approach

Application of the fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-based solid-phase segment condensation approach to the preparation of sulfated peptides was investigated through the synthesis of human big gastrin-II, a 34-residue sulfated tyrosine [Tyr(SO3H)]-containing peptide. Highly acid-sensitive 2-chlorotrityl resin (Clt resin) was exclusively employed as an anchor-resin for the preparation of the three peptide segments having the C-terminal Pro residue as well as of the Tyr(SO3H)-containing resin-bound segment. By using the PyBOP-mediated coupling protocol [PyBOP=benzotriazolyloxytris(pyrrolidino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphatel, we successively condensed each segment and constructed the 34-residue peptide-resin without any difficulty. The final acid treatment of the fully protected peptide-resin at low temperature (90% aqueous TFA, 0 degree C for 8 h), which can detach a Tyr(SO3H)-containing peptide from the resin and remove the protecting groups concurrently with minimum deterioration of the sulfate, afforded a crude sulfated peptide. After one-step HPLC purification, a highly homogeneous human big gastrin-II was easily obtained in 14% yield from the protected peptide-resin. The sulfate form of the C-terminal glycine-extended gastrin (G34-Gly sulfate), a posttranslational processing intermediate of gastrin-II, was also successfully prepared with the segment condensation approach (11% yield). These results demonstrated the usefulness of the segment condensation protocol for preparing large Tyr(SO3H)-containing peptides.

The gastrins: their production and biological activities

Gastric epithelial organization and function are controlled and maintained by a variety of endocrine and paracrine mediators. Peptides encoded by the gastrin gene are an important part of this system because targeted deletion of the gene, or of the gastrin-CCKB receptor gene, leads to decreased numbers of parietal cells and decreased gastric acid secretion. Recent studies indicate that the gastrin precursor, preprogastrin, gives rise to a variety of products, each with a distinctive spectrum of biological activity. The conversion of progastrin to smaller peptides is regulated by multiple mechanisms including prohormone phosphorylation and secretory vesicle pH. Progastrin itself stimulates colonic epithelial proliferation; biosynthetic intermediates (Gly-gastrins) stimulate colonic epithelial proliferation and gastric epithelial differentiation; and C-terminally amidated gastrins stimulate colonic proliferation, gastric epithelial proliferation and differentiation, and acid secretion. The effects of progastrin-derived peptides on gastric epithelial function are mediated in part by release of paracrine factors that include histamine, epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor ligands, and Reg. The importance of the appropriate regulation of this system is shown by the observation that prolonged moderate hypergastrinemia in transgenic mice leads to remodelling of the gastric epithelium, and in the presence of Helicobacter, to gastric cancer.

Expression and activation of NF-kappa B in the antrum of the human stomach

Both in vitro studies and experiments in mice suggest a key role for transcription factor NF-kappa B as a mediator of mucosal inflammation. Experiments in vitro show that NF-kappa B activation may be a critical event in the production of proinflammatory molecules in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis. This study examines the expression and activity of NF-kappa B in situ in antral biopsies of 69 consecutive patients with immunohistochemical techniques. In the uninflamed stomach, NF-kappa B was highly expressed and active in a subset of epithelial cells, which were identified as predominantly G cells. In accordance with this activity, G cells were shown to express high levels of the NF-kappa B target cytokine TNF-alpha, a well-documented stimulator of gastrin production. In patients with H. pylori-associated gastritis, NF-kappa B activity was markedly enhanced. Activation occurred preferentially in the epithelial cells. The number of cells showing activated NF-kappa B correlated with the activity of gastritis, a measure of neutrophil influx, whereas no correlation was found with the chronicity of inflammation, a measure of the presence of mononuclear inflammatory cells. This correlation is direct evidence of the importance of NF-kappa B-dependent signal transduction for neutrophil influx in H. pylori-associated gastritis.

Developmental biology of gastrin and somatostatin cells in the antropyloric mucosa of the stomach

Gastrin is a hormone regulating gastric acid secretion and the growth of the gastrointestinal epithelium. It is expressed by endocrine tumors and by adenocarcinomas of the gastroenteropancreatic region and may represent an autocrine tumor growth factor. Gastrin is also implicated in the genesis of peptic ulcer disease both in conjunction with H. pylori infections and with gastrin-producing tumors. The secretion and expression of gastrin are under the paracrine control of somatostatin, produced by D cells situated in close contact with gastrin-producing G cells. D cells also contain neuronal nitric oxide synthase and appear to regulate apoptosis of G cells by paracrine release of nitric oxide. Both G and D cells are derived from a common multihormonal precursor cell present in the regenerative (isthmus) region of the gastric units. The precursor cells have been suggested to undergo asymmetrical divisions resulting in gastrin- and somatostatin-producing daughter cells that remain in paracrine contact during their migration into the glands. The precursor cells also give rise to the third main antropyloric endocrine cell type; the serotonin-producing EC cell. The maturation of all of these cell types is regulated by a number of transcription factors containing homeobox motifs (Pdx-1, Pax 4 and 6, Isl-1, Nkx6.1). Many of these also regulate the development of the central nervous system and the pancreas. The use of different combinations of these factors for regulating the expression of different hormones may explain the phenomenon of abberant hormone expression during development and carcinogenesis and the occurrence of multihormonal cells.

Innervation of the gastric mucosa

A plethora of neuronal messengers ("classical" transmitters, gaseous messengers, amino acid transmitters, and neuropeptides) are capable of mediating or modulating gastric functions. Accordingly, the stomach is richly innervated. Gastric nerves are either intrinsic to the gastric wall, i.e., they have their cell bodies in the intramural ganglia and thus belong to the enteric nervous system, or they reach the stomach from outside, originating in the brainstem, in sympathetic ganglia, or in sensory ganglia. Topographically, the nerve fibers in the stomach reach all layers from the most superficial portions of the gastric glands to the outer smooth muscle layer. This wide distribution implies that virtually all different cell types may be reached by neuronal messengers. Within the gastric mucosa endocrine and paracrine cells (e.g., gastrin cells, ECL cells, somatostatin cells), exocrine cells (parietal cells, chief cells, mucous cells), smooth muscle cells, and stromal cells are regulated by neuronal messengers. The sensory innervation, responding to capsaicin, plays an important role in mucosal protection, and in ulcer healing. Presumably also other nerves are involved and a plasticity in the neuropeptide expression has been demonstrated at the margin of gastric ulcers. Taken together, available data indicate a complex interplay between hormones, paracrine messengers and neuronal messengers, growth factors and cytokines in the regulation of gastric mucosal activities such as secretion, local blood flow, growth, and restitution after damage.

Conceivable mechanisms by which Helicobacter pylori provokes duodenal ulcer disease

A conceivable concept for the development of duodenal ulcers in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infected subjects is presented in this chapter. The concept includes an explanation of the fact that only a minority of all H. pylori-infected subjects will develop a duodenal ulcer. Helicobacter pylori infection of the antrum induces a hypersecretion of gastric acid secretion, giving rise to gastric metaplasia in the duodenal bulb. This gastric metaplasia is a prerequisite for H. pylori colonization of the bulb. These events are common to all H. pylori-infected subjects. However, a much higher density of H. pylori bacteria and colonization with virulent organisms has been found in the bulb of duodenal ulcer patients, resulting in a much stronger inflammatory reaction with active duodenitis and an impaired bicarbonate secretion. These characteristics, together with acid hypersecretion, seem to be the important factors in evoking a duodenal ulcer.

17Beta-estradiol modulates gastroduodenal preneoplastic alterations in rats exposed to the carcinogen N-methyl-N'-nitro-nitrosoguanidine

Gastric cancers are a significant cause of morbidity worldwide. Epidemiological studies and animal models show that males have higher incidences of gastric cancers compared with females, suggesting that sex hormones may modulate gastric cancer risk. An animal model of the initiation phase of gastric cancer was used to determine the effects of systemic estrogen administration on morphological progression of preneoplastic lesions and to define cell populations at which estrogens may act. Preneoplastic progression in antral and duodenal mucosa was examined in male rats that received the chemical carcinogen, N-methyl-N'-nitro-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), during treatment with implants containing 17beta-estradiol or oil vehicle. Histopathological changes in antral and duodenal gland morphology, numbers of proliferating cells and apoptotic bodies, and antral gastrin cell numbers and protein storage levels were determined 4 weeks later. With MNNG treatment, duodenal villous heights were significantly decreased, and epithelial cells displayed histological features of hyperplasia and dysplasia. Antral glands showed epithelial hyperplasia and dysplasia, increased mucosal height, and decreased mucin levels. Antral gastrin storage protein levels were decreased by MNNG. Systemic treatment with 17beta-estradiol significantly reversed MNNG-induced alterations in duodenal gland heights while increasing mucin and gastrin levels in antral glands. Cell proliferation and apoptosis rates were not significantly different between groups. The present results indicate that systemic 17beta-estradiol treatment influences antral and duodenal gland differentiation during the initiation phase of chemical gastroduodenal carcinogenesis in male rats. These results explain, in part, a potential pathway through which protective effects of estrogens on chemical carcinogenesis are mediated in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Signaling pathways mediating gastrin's growth-promoting effects

In addition to its fundamental role in stimulating gastric acid secretion, the peptide hormone gastrin induces growth-promoting effects on diversity of target cells. Various mechanisms, including endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine, have been proposed for gastrin's growth-promoting actions. The mitogenic effects of gastrin are mediated by specific cell surface receptors activated after gastrin binding. The functionally defined receptors for gastrin include cholecystokinin A (CCKA) receptor, which is discriminating for sulfated CCK8; cholecystokinin B (CCKB)/gastrin receptor, which binds gastrin17 sulfated, and nonsulfated CCK8 with nearly equal affinities; cholecystokinin C (CCKC), which is a low-affinity gastrin binding protein; and novel, high-affinity receptors selective for amidated gastrin, processing intermediates of gastrin, or both. The signaling pathways mediating gastrin's stimulation of the CCKB/gastrin receptor have been progressively outlined, and the pathways mediating other receptors have been slowly emerging. Engagement of the gastrin receptor initiates various biochemical and molecular events, including recruitment and activation of tyrosine kinases, activation of the phospholipase C signaling pathway leading to phosphoinositide breakdown, intracellular calcium mobilization and protein kinase C stimulation, activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, and induction of early response genes. Current emphasis is on understanding the functional significance of processing intermediate forms of gastrin, and the receptor subtypes and pathways that promote the trophic/mitogenic effects of the different molecular forms of gastrin.

Proliferative effects of cholecystokinin in GH3 pituitary cells mediated by CCK2 receptors and potentiated by insulin

1. Proliferative effects of CCK peptides have been examined in rat anterior pituitary GH3 cells, which express CCK2 receptors. 2. CCK-8s, gastrin(1-17) and its glycine-extended precursor G(1-17)-Gly, previously reported to cause proliferation via putative novel sites on AR4-2J and Swiss 3T3 cells, elicited significant dose dependent increases of similar magnitude in [3H]thymidine incorporation over 3 days in serum-free medium of 39 +/- 10% (P < 0.01, n = 20), 37 +/- 8% (P < 0.01, n = 27) and 41 +/- 6% (P < 0.01, n = 36) respectively. 3. CCK-8s and gastrin potentially stimulated mitogenesis (EC50 values 0.12 nM and 3.0 nM respectively), whilst G-Gly displayed similar efficacy but markedly lower potency. L-365,260 consistently blocked each peptide. The CCK2 receptor affinity of G-Gly in GH3 cells was 1.09 microM (1.01;1.17, n = 6) and 5.53 microM (3.71;5.99, n = 4) in guinea-pig cortex. 4. 1 microM G-Gly weakly stimulated Ca2+ increase, eliciting a 104 +/- 21% increase over basal Ca2+ levels, and was blocked by 1 microM L-365,260 whilst CCK-8s (100 nM) produced a much larger Ca2+ response (331 +/- 14%). 5. Insulin dose dependently enhanced proliferative effects of CCK-8s with a maximal leftwards shift of the CCK-8s curve at 100 ng ml(-1) (17 nM) (EC50 decreased 500 fold, from 0.1 nM to 0.2 pM; P < 0.0001). 10 microg ml(-1) insulin was supramaximal reducing the EC50 to 5 pM (P = 0.027) whilst 1 ng ml(-1) insulin was ineffective. Insulin weakly displaced [125I]BHCCK binding to GH3 CCK2 receptors (IC50 3.6 microM). 6. Results are consistent with mediation of G-Gly effects via CCK2 receptors in GH3 cells and reinforce the role of CCK2 receptors in control of cell growth. Effects of insulin in enhancing CCK proliferative potency may suggest that CCK2 and insulin receptors converge on common intracellular targets and indicates that mitogenic stimuli are influenced by the combination of extracellular factors present.

Gastric carcinoid expresses the gastrin autocrine pathway

BACKGROUND

In gastric adenocarcinoma the gastrin autocrine-paracrine pathway is activated. As enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells originate from the same stem as epithelial cells, the aim of this study was to determine if the gastrin autocrine pathway is present in gastric carcinoid.

METHODS

Samples from ten patients with gastric carcinoid were assessed by immunocytochemistry using primary antibodies directed against gastrin precursors and the gastrin/cholecystokinin B receptor and detected using the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase system.

RESULTS

A high level of expression of precursor and mature gastrin peptides, together with the gastrin receptor, was seen in all carcinoids screened.

CONCLUSION

In common with the glandular epithelium of the stomach the gastrin gene is activated during the neoplastic process in ECL cells. This finding may explain why some carcinoids do not regress after surgical procedures that lower serum gastrin. Antigastrin agents may be a useful treatment for carcinoid either in their own right or as an adjunct to surgery.