Expression of alveolar type II cell markers in acinar adenocarcinomas and adenoid cystic carcinomas arising from segmental bronchi. A study in a heterotopic bronchogenic carcinoma model in dogs

• Published in: The American journal of pathology Vol. 142; no. 4; pp. 1251 - 1264
• Main Authors: TenHave-Opbroek, AA, Hammond, WG, Benfield, JR, Teplitz, RL, Dijkman, JH
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD ASIP 01.04.1993; American Society for Investigative Pathology
• Subjects: Animal tumors. Experimental tumors; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Bronchial Neoplasms - chemically induced; Bronchial Neoplasms - metabolism; Bronchial Neoplasms - pathology; Carcinoma - chemically induced; Carcinoma - metabolism; Carcinoma - pathology; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - chemically induced; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - metabolism; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - pathology; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic - metabolism; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic - pathology; Dogs; Experimental respiratory system tumors; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Medical sciences; Methylcholanthrene; Mice; Mice, Nude; Microscopy, Electron; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Proteins - chemistry; Neoplasm Transplantation; Pulmonary Alveoli - metabolism; Pulmonary Alveoli - pathology; Tumors; Fissipedia; Alveolar type II cell; Carnivora; Respiratory disease; Lung; Malignant tumor; Gene expression; Acinar cell carcinoma; Vertebrata; Experimental disease; Mammalia; Animal; Dog; Adenoid cystic carcinoma
• ISSN: 0002-9440

The type II alveolar epithelial cell is one of two pluripotential stem cell phenotypes in normal mammalian lung morphogenesis; cells manifesting this phenotype have been found to constitute bronchioloalveolar regions of canine adenocarcinomas. We now studied type II cell expression in canine acinar adenocarcinomas and adenoid cystic (bronchial gland) carcinomas, using the same bronchogenic carcinoma model (subcutaneous bronchial autografts treated with 3-methylcholanthrene). Distinctive features of type II cells are the approximately cuboid cell shape, large and roundish nucleus, immunofluorescent staining of the cytoplasm for the surfactant protein SP-A, and presence of multilamellar bodies or their precursory forms. Cells with these type II cell characteristics were found in the basal epithelial layer of all tumor lesions and in upper layers as far as the lumen, singly or in clusters; they were also found in early invasive carcinomatous lesions but not in bronchial glands or bronchial epithelium before carcinogen exposure. Immunoblots of tumor homogenates showed reactive proteins within size classes of SP-A (28 to 36 kd) or its dimeric form (56 to 72 kd). These findings and those previously reported are consistent with the concept that chemical carcinogenesis in the adult bronchial epithelium may lead to type II cell carcinomas of varying glandular (acinar, adenoidcystic or bronchioloalveolar) growth patterns.