Second Department of Surgery, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050011, P.R. China.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China.
Mol Med Rep. 2018 Jun;17(6):8423-8431. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2018.8883. Epub 2018 Apr 13.
The present study evaluated the distribution of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves and the expression of the α9 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α9nAChR) and investigated their potential association with colorectal cancer (CRC) development. The distribution of autonomic nerves and α9nAChR in CRC was detected by immunohistochemistry, which was then used to analyze their association with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. Sympathetic fibers were primarily observed in the stroma adjacent to cancer cells, whereas parasympathetic fibers were primarily observed in the stroma away from cancer cells. Patients with samples positive for sympathetic nerve fibers had less lymph node invasion and a better prognosis compared with patients with samples negative for sympathetic nerve fibers. The expression of parasympathetic nerves in patients >60 years old was increased compared with patients ≤60 years old. The expression of parasympathetic nerves in patients with lymph node invasion was increased compared with patients without lymph node invasion. The detection of parasympathetic nerves gradually increased as CRC (T stage) advanced. Patients with parasympathetic negative samples had better prognoses compared with patients with parasympathetic positive samples. The expression of α9nAChR was principally localized in cellular membranes and the cytoplasm of CRC tissues and it was revealed to have a positive association with the number of parasympathetic nerves. Increased α9nAChR expression was observed in patients >60 years old compared with patients <60 years old. The detection rate of α9nAChR in tissues from patients with lymph node invasion was increased compared with patients without lymph node invasion. The detection of α9nAChR gradually increased as the CRC stage advanced. The prognoses for patients with α9nAChR negative tissue were improved compared with the prognoses for patients with α9nAChR positive tissue. Sympathetic nerves were primarily detected in the early phases of CRC and indicated a good prognosis. Parasympathetic nerves and α9nAChR were principally observed in the late phases of cancer and indicated a poor prognosis. The present study revealed that parasympathetic nerves may promote the progression of CRC through α9nAChR.
本研究评估了交感神经和副交感神经的分布以及α9 烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体（α9nAChR）的表达，并探讨了它们与结直肠癌（CRC）发展的潜在关联。通过免疫组织化学检测 CRC 中自主神经和α9nAChR 的分布，然后分析它们与临床病理参数和预后的关系。交感神经纤维主要存在于癌细胞周围的基质中，而副交感神经纤维主要存在于远离癌细胞的基质中。与交感神经纤维阴性样本的患者相比，交感神经纤维阳性样本的患者淋巴结侵犯较少，预后较好。60 岁以上患者的副交感神经表达增加，60 岁以下患者的副交感神经表达减少。有淋巴结侵犯的患者的副交感神经表达增加，而无淋巴结侵犯的患者的副交感神经表达减少。随着 CRC（T 分期）的进展，副交感神经的检测逐渐增加。副交感神经阴性样本的患者预后较好，而副交感神经阳性样本的患者预后较差。α9nAChR 的表达主要定位于 CRC 组织的细胞膜和细胞质中，与副交感神经纤维数量呈正相关。与 60 岁以下患者相比，60 岁以上患者的α9nAChR 表达增加。有淋巴结侵犯的患者组织中α9nAChR 的检出率高于无淋巴结侵犯的患者。随着 CRC 分期的进展，α9nAChR 的检出率逐渐增加。α9nAChR 阴性组织的患者预后较好，而α9nAChR 阳性组织的患者预后较差。交感神经主要在 CRC 的早期阶段被检测到，预示着良好的预后。副交感神经和α9nAChR 主要在癌症的晚期被观察到，预示着不良的预后。本研究表明，副交感神经可能通过α9nAChR 促进 CRC 的进展。
