Goel A, Gupta I, Joshi K
Department of Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1997 Jul;121(7):719-23.
Immunohistochemical identification of intermediate filaments and other cell identity markers is of immense value in diagnostic tumor pathology. However, the literature contains many examples of inappropriate expression of markers by various tumors or coexpression of two or more markers supposedly specific for different cell types. The present study investigated this subversion of antigen differentiation in tumors by using developing tissues as a model.
Twenty-five human embryos and fetuses of 4 to 24 weeks' gestation were studied. An indirect immunoperoxidase method was applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections using a panel of 13 commonly used cell identity markers including intermediate filaments.
During early development, vimentin was found to be coexpressed with cytokeratin in surface ectoderm, developing notochord, renal tubule epithelium, and intestinal mucosa. It coexpressed with glial fibrillary acidic protein in developing neuroglial tissue, with S100 in cartilage, and with skeletal muscle markers in myotubules. Hence, vimentin represents immaturity of tissues and is coexpressed with specific cell markers to be eventually replaced by the latter. Transbarrier expression of cytokeratin in smooth muscle was also noted.
The aberrant expression of antigens in neoplastic tissues, as reported in the literature, simulates the varying expression of antigens in immature tissues during development. Hence, it is proposed that the phenomenon of antigenic subversion in neoplasia is related to the process of maturation and differentiation.
免疫组织化学鉴定中间丝及其他细胞标志物在肿瘤诊断病理学中具有重要价值。然而，文献中有许多不同肿瘤标志物表达不当或两种或更多种本应特异性针对不同细胞类型的标志物共表达的例子。本研究以发育中的组织为模型，探讨肿瘤中抗原分化的这种颠覆现象。
研究了25例妊娠4至24周的人类胚胎和胎儿。采用间接免疫过氧化物酶法，对经福尔马林固定、石蜡包埋的切片使用一组13种常用的细胞标志物进行检测，包括中间丝。
在早期发育过程中，波形蛋白在表面外胚层、发育中的脊索、肾小管上皮和肠黏膜中与细胞角蛋白共表达。它在发育中的神经胶质组织中与胶质纤维酸性蛋白共表达，在软骨中与S100共表达，在肌管中与骨骼肌标志物共表达。因此，波形蛋白代表组织的不成熟，并与特定细胞标志物共表达，最终被后者取代。还注意到细胞角蛋白在平滑肌中的跨屏障表达。
文献中报道的肿瘤组织中抗原的异常表达模拟了发育过程中未成熟组织中抗原的不同表达。因此，有人提出肿瘤中抗原颠覆现象与成熟和分化过程有关。
