Biomaterial Database

Alpha1 connexin 43 gap junctions are decreased in human adrenocortical tumors. 2000

S A Murray, and K Davis, and L M Fishman, and S R Bornstein

Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.

Gap junctional communication disorders have been implicated in the etiology of benign and malignant tumors. Understanding the type, distribution, and frequency of gap junctions in adrenal disorders should provide insight into the role of gap junctions in adrenal carcinogenesis as well as information that may be useful in developing improved diagnosis and treatment of adrenal diseases. Using immunocytochemical techniques, we have characterized and compared alpha1 connexins 43 gap junction protein levels in normal adrenal glands to those in benign and malignant adrenocortical human tumors. In addition, gap junction protein levels were studied in a human adrenal cancer cell line (H295). In both normal and neoplastic adrenal tissues, only alpha1 connexin 43 could be detected, whereas beta1 connexin 32 and beta2 connexin 26 were not found. In the normal adrenal gland, the zona fasciculata was demonstrated to have the highest number of gap junctions per cell (mean +/- SEM, 13.78 +/- 1.93). In contrast, in benign adrenocortical adenomas, the number of gap junctions per cell compared to that detected in normal adrenal glands was significantly reduced (mean +/- SEM, 4.6 +/- 1.17; P < or = 0.05), and the lowest number was found in malignant adrenocortical tumors (1.42 +/- 0.58; P < or = 0.05). Similarly, there were few or no alpha1 connexin 43 gap junctions in the H295 population. There was a progressive decrease in gap junction plaques in adrenocortical cancer cell populations compared to those in normal cell populations. Therefore, analysis of gap junction protein may be helpful for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant adrenal tumors. The induction of gap junctions in malignant cells may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for adrenal cancer.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007150	Immunohistochemistry	Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents.	Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D012016	Reference Values	The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality.	Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D002277	Carcinoma	A malignant neoplasm made up of epithelial cells tending to infiltrate the surrounding tissues and give rise to metastases. It is a histological type of neoplasm and not a synonym for "cancer."	Carcinoma, Anaplastic,Carcinoma, Spindle-Cell,Carcinoma, Undifferentiated,Carcinomatosis,Epithelial Neoplasms, Malignant,Epithelioma,Epithelial Tumors, Malignant,Malignant Epithelial Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Malignant Epithelial,Anaplastic Carcinoma,Anaplastic Carcinomas,Carcinoma, Spindle Cell,Carcinomas,Carcinomatoses,Epithelial Neoplasm, Malignant,Epithelial Tumor, Malignant,Epitheliomas,Malignant Epithelial Neoplasm,Malignant Epithelial Tumor,Malignant Epithelial Tumors,Neoplasm, Malignant Epithelial,Spindle-Cell Carcinoma,Spindle-Cell Carcinomas,Tumor, Malignant Epithelial,Undifferentiated Carcinoma,Undifferentiated Carcinomas
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000236	Adenoma	A benign epithelial tumor with a glandular organization.	Adenoma, Basal Cell,Adenoma, Follicular,Adenoma, Microcystic,Adenoma, Monomorphic,Adenoma, Papillary,Adenoma, Trabecular,Adenomas,Adenomas, Basal Cell,Adenomas, Follicular,Adenomas, Microcystic,Adenomas, Monomorphic,Adenomas, Papillary,Adenomas, Trabecular,Basal Cell Adenoma,Basal Cell Adenomas,Follicular Adenoma,Follicular Adenomas,Microcystic Adenoma,Microcystic Adenomas,Monomorphic Adenoma,Monomorphic Adenomas,Papillary Adenoma,Papillary Adenomas,Trabecular Adenoma,Trabecular Adenomas
D000306	Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms	Tumors or cancers of the ADRENAL CORTEX.	Adrenocortical Cancer,Cancer of Adrenal Cortex,Adrenal Cortex Cancer,Cancer of the Adrenal Cortex,Neoplasms, Adrenal Cortex,Adrenal Cortex Cancers,Adrenal Cortex Neoplasm,Adrenocortical Cancers,Cancer, Adrenal Cortex,Cancer, Adrenocortical,Cancers, Adrenal Cortex,Cancers, Adrenocortical,Neoplasm, Adrenal Cortex
D000311	Adrenal Glands	A pair of glands located at the cranial pole of each of the two KIDNEYS. Each adrenal gland is composed of two distinct endocrine tissues with separate embryonic origins, the ADRENAL CORTEX producing STEROIDS and the ADRENAL MEDULLA producing NEUROTRANSMITTERS.	Adrenal Gland,Gland, Adrenal,Glands, Adrenal
D014407	Tumor Cells, Cultured	Cells grown in vitro from neoplastic tissue. If they can be established as a TUMOR CELL LINE, they can be propagated in cell culture indefinitely.	Cultured Tumor Cells,Neoplastic Cells, Cultured,Cultured Neoplastic Cells,Cell, Cultured Neoplastic,Cell, Cultured Tumor,Cells, Cultured Neoplastic,Cells, Cultured Tumor,Cultured Neoplastic Cell,Cultured Tumor Cell,Neoplastic Cell, Cultured,Tumor Cell, Cultured
D017629	Gap Junctions	Connections between cells which allow passage of small molecules and electric current. Gap junctions were first described anatomically as regions of close apposition between cells with a narrow (1-2 nm) gap between cell membranes. The variety in the properties of gap junctions is reflected in the number of CONNEXINS, the family of proteins which form the junctions.	Gap Junction,Junction, Gap,Junctions, Gap
D018031	Connexin 43	A 43-kDa peptide which is a member of the connexin family of gap junction proteins. Connexin 43 is a product of a gene in the alpha class of connexin genes (the alpha-1 gene). It was first isolated from mammalian heart, but is widespread in the body including the brain.	Cx43,Connexin43