Expression And Significance Of MUC1 And MUC2 Mucins In Stone-Containing Intrahepatic Biliary Epithelium

Objectives To detect the expression of MUCl and MUC2 mucins in cholesterol and calcium bilirubin calculus intrahepatic biliary epithelium, and to probe the relationship between MUCl and MUC2 mucins and the formation of the two kind of caculus, and furthermore, to study their correlation with precancerous lesions in the intrahepatic biliary epithelium. Methods From April, 2001 to March, 2004 fifty-four cases were accepted in the department of general surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University and in the ChiZhou People's Hospital, all cases were divided into 4 groups: control group (n=12), Cholesterol calculus group (n=8), calcium bilirubin calculus group (n=32) and cholangiocarcinomas group (n=2). In the study, the group of calcium bilirubin calculus was divided, according to the histopathological condition of the intrahepatic biliary epithelium, into two inferior groups: hyperplastic group (n=13) and dysplastic (including metaplasia and atypical metaplasia) group (n=15). The expression of MUCl and MUC2 mucins were detected in the intrahepatic biliary epithelium of the whole cases with immunohistochemical stains. Results The positive detection rates of MUCl in control group, cholesterol calculus group, and calcium bilirubincalculus group were 25.0% (3/12) , 37.5% (3/8) and 65.6% (21/32) ; The positive detection rates of MUC2 were 8.3%(1/12), 25.0%(2/8) and 53.1%(17/32) respectively. The positive expression rates of MUC1 in hyperplastic group and dysplastic group were53.8%(7/13) and 86.7%(13/15); The rates of MUC2 were 30.8%(4/13) and 80.0%(12/15) respectively; The expression intensity of the mucins increased synchronously, as well. Conclusions There are closely relation between the expression of MUC1 and MUC2 mucins and the formation of different kind of calculus in human intrahepatic bile ducts. Transformation in precancerous lesion of the biliary epithelium is accompained by alterations in mucins expression; The increased expression of MUC1 mucin in dysplastic cells of stone-containing intrahepatic biliary epithelium could be a precursor of cholangiocarcinoma in the presence of hepatolithiasis, and MUC1 mucin could be a biologic symbol of cholangiocarcinoma; The positive expression of MUC2 mucin may reflect the histopathological condition and the level of precancerous lesions in intrahepatic biliary epithelium.