Expressions of E-cadherin, p120ctn, β-catenin and NF-κB in ulcerative colitis

• Published in: Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical sciences Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 368 - 373
• Main Authors: Zhang, Chao, Liu, Li-wei, Sun, Wen-jia, Qin, Sheng-hui, Qin, Ling-zhi, Wang, Xi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wuhan Huazhong University of Science and Technology 01.06.2015; Institute of Pathology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; beta Catenin - metabolism; Cadherins - metabolism; Catenins - metabolism; Colitis, Ulcerative - metabolism; Colitis, Ulcerative - pathology; Down-Regulation; Female; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Statistics, Nonparametric; Young Adult; p120ctn; β-catenin; NF-κB; ulcerative colitis; E-cadherin
• ISSN: 1672-0733; 1993-1352; 1993-1352
• DOI: 10.1007/s11596-015-1439-9

Summary This study was aimed to investigate the expressions of E-cadherin, p120ctn, β-catenin and NF-κB in ulcerative colitis (UC) tissues and the implications of their expressions in the pathogenesis of UC. The expressions of E-cadherin, p120ctn, β-catenin and NF-κB were detected by immunohistochemistry, and those of p120ctn and NF-κB by Western blotting in 23 cases of UC and 17 cases of normal colonic tissues. The relationship between the expression of E-cadherin or NF-κB and that of p120ctn was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation analysis. The results showed that in UC and normal colonic groups, the abnormal expression rate of E-cadherin, p120ctn, β-catenin, and NF-κB was 52.2% vs . 0 ( P <0.05), 73.9% vs . 23.5% ( P <0.05), 65.2% vs . 17.6% ( P <0.05) and 78.4% vs . 23.5% ( P <0.05), respectively. p120ctn expression was positively correlated with E-cadherin expression ( r =0.404, P <0.05), but negatively with nuclear NF-κB expression ( r = − 0.347, P <0.05). Western blotting showed that as compared with the normal controls, the p120ctn protein level was significantly decreased ( P <0.05), whereas the NF-κB protein level was increased ( P <0.05) in UC tissues. It was concluded that in the colonic tissues of UC patients, the expressions of E-cadherin, p120ctn and β-catenin are decreased, suggesting the mucosal barrier is impaired in UC. Moreover, NF-κB is increased and activated in the UC tissues, resulting in the inflammation in UC. p120ctn may influence the UC development through modulating intercellular adhesion and inflammatory response.