Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
J Crohns Colitis. 2018 Nov 9;12(10):1210-1218. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjy091.
Prox1 is a transcription factor necessary for lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic function. The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between the expression of Prox1 and postoperative recurrence in Crohn's disease [CD].
Forty CD patients who underwent ileo-colonic resection were included. Expression levels of Prox1 and D2-40 were detected using immunohistochemistry. Expression levels of Prox1, VEGFR3, and VEGFC protein were also detected in fresh CD specimens using western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction [Q-PCR]. Endoscopic recurrence was used as the endpoint. Patients comprised two groups: endoscopic recurrence [Group R+] and no endoscopic recurrence [Group R-].
Prox1 protein expression was significantly higher in CD than in normal tissues [p <0.05], as detected using both immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Analysis of inter-relationships revealed significant correlation between Prox1 expression and lymphatic vessel density [p <0.001, r = 0.823]. There was also significant correlation between Prox1 expression and the visceral fat area [VFA] [p = 0.002, r = -0.469]. The Group R- patients had significantly higher Prox1 expression than the Group R+ patients [21.08 ± 1.61 versus 15.64 ± 1.17, p = 0.011]. Also, the lymphatic vessel density value was lower in Group R+ than in Group R- patients [6.02 ± 0.39 versus 8.13 ± 0.59, p = 0.004]. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the VFA between Group R- and Group R+ patients [64.43 ± 7.76 versus 90.44 ± 6.11, p = 0.016]. In addition to Prox1, VEGFC/VEGFR3 was found to increase, which was further confirmed using Q-PCR.
Prox1 expression could be useful as a protective factor against recurrence in CD patients. The therapeutic role of Prox1 may lead to improved treatments.
Prox1 是淋巴管生成和淋巴管功能所必需的转录因子。本研究旨在评估 Prox1 的表达与克罗恩病 [CD] 术后复发之间的相关性。
纳入 40 例接受回肠结肠切除术的 CD 患者。使用免疫组织化学检测 Prox1 和 D2-40 的表达水平。使用 Western blot 和定量聚合酶链反应 [Q-PCR] 检测新鲜 CD 标本中 Prox1、VEGFR3 和 VEGFC 蛋白的表达水平。将内镜复发作为终点。患者分为两组：内镜复发 [R+ 组] 和无内镜复发 [R- 组]。
与正常组织相比，CD 中 Prox1 蛋白表达明显升高[P <0.05]，免疫组织化学和 Western blot 检测均如此。分析相互关系显示，Prox1 表达与淋巴管密度之间存在显著相关性[P <0.001，r = 0.823]。Prox1 表达与内脏脂肪面积 [VFA] 之间也存在显著相关性[P = 0.002，r = -0.469]。R- 组患者的 Prox1 表达明显高于 R+ 组患者[21.08 ± 1.61 比 15.64 ± 1.17，P = 0.011]。此外，R+ 组患者的淋巴管密度值低于 R- 组患者[6.02 ± 0.39 比 8.13 ± 0.59，P = 0.004]。此外，R- 组和 R+ 组患者的 VFA 差异有统计学意义[64.43 ± 7.76 比 90.44 ± 6.11，P = 0.016]。除了 Prox1 之外，还发现 VEGFC/VEGFR3 增加，Q-PCR 进一步证实了这一点。
Prox1 的表达可作为 CD 患者预防复发的保护因素。Prox1 的治疗作用可能会带来更好的治疗效果。
