Human chorionic gonadotropin in lung and lung tumors. Immunohistochemical study on unbalanced distribution of subunits.
Lab Invest
; 55(4): 433-43, 1986 Oct.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-2429065
ABSTRACT
To demonstrate unbalanced distribution of subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the lung and lung tumors and to clarify its significance in differentiation and carcinogenesis of the lung, immunohistochemistry was performed on human fetus, infant, and adult lungs, and endocrine and nonendocrine tumors of the lung. Tissues were immunostained for alpha-subunits and for beta-subunits of glycoprotein hormones (hCG, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and thyroid stimulating hormone), serotonin, and gastrin-releasing peptide. Immunoreactive alpha-subunit was first identified in endocrine-like cells at the 39th gestational week, and was found in all infant lungs and two-thirds of adult lungs. The hCG beta-immunoreactive cells were extremely rare in an adult lung, and were not found in fetus or infant lungs. The alpha-subunit-containing cells were present in neuroepithelial bodies, tumorlets, carcinoid tumors, and small cell carcinomas of the lung (SCCL). There were occasionally alpha-subunit-containing cells in non-SCCL but one of the carcinomas also contained many serotonin-positive and gastrin-releasing peptide-positive cells in the same region. All alpha-subunit-immunoreactive cells lacked immunoreactivity for beta-subunits of glycoprotein hormones, except some for hCG beta in one carcinoid tumor. Immunoreactive cells for isolated hCG beta appeared much more frequently in non-SCCL than in SCCL. Most non-SCCL containing hCG beta-positive cells did not show alpha-subunit-immunoreactivity. Thus, immunohistochemical distribution of hCG-subunits was unbalanced and hCG-subunits may be expressed through an independent mechanism, commonly in the lung and lung tumors. The significance of isolated alpha-subunit is further discussed in light of multidirectional differentiation of lung neoplasms (14, 17).
Buscar no Google
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Gonadotropina Coriônica
/
Pulmão
/
Neoplasias Pulmonares
Limite:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Newborn
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
1986
Tipo de documento:
Article