Leading-edge myofibroblasts in human colon cancer express plasminogen activator inhibitor-1

• Published in: American journal of clinical pathology 2004-08, Vol.122 (2), p.256-265
• Main Authors: ILLEMANN, Martin, HANSEN, Ulla, NIELSEN, Hans Jørgen, ANDREASEN, Peter A, HØYER-HANSEN, Gunilla, LUND, Leif R, DANØ, Keld, NIELSEN, Boye Schnack
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actins - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - blood supply; Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Antigens, CD34 - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Colonic Neoplasms - blood supply; Colonic Neoplasms - metabolism; Colonic Neoplasms - pathology; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Fibroblasts - pathology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Muscle Cells - metabolism; Muscle Cells - pathology; Muscle, Smooth - metabolism; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 - biosynthesis; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 - immunology; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Tumors
• ISSN: 0002-9173; 1943-7722
• DOI: 10.1309/F32XWQ20T568H8VP

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is up-regulated strongly in various cancer tissues, including colon cancer tissue. Highly specific rabbit polyclonal antibodies against PAI-1 were used for immunohistochemical localization of PAI-1 in 12 invasive colorectal adenocarcinomas. PAI-1 immunoreactivity was observed in endothelial cells of some vessels located in the submucosa and in several fibroblast-like cells located at the invasive front. No PAI-1 immunoreactivity was seen in cancer cells in any of the 12 cases. Double immunofluorescence using the PAI-1 antibodies together with antibodies against alpha-smooth muscle actin for myofibroblast/smooth muscle cells and CD34 for endothelial cells showed that more than 80% of the PAI-1-positive fibroblast-like cells in all 12 cases were myofibroblasts. In 4 of 12 cases, a few of the PAI-1-positive fibroblast-like cells in the invasive front were CD34+. We conclude that the majority of PAI-1-positive fibroblast-like cells located at the leading edge of the invasive colon cancers are myofibroblasts.