Expression And Significance Of Connexin 43 And Connexin 26 In Urology Transitional Cell Carcinoma

To investigate the relationships and significance of expression of Connexin 43(Cx43) and Connexin 26(Cx26) in transitional cell carcinoma(TCC) and normal tissues. Connexin 43 and Connexin 26, one member of Connexin family, is considered as a Gap junctions(GJ). Connect the cytoplasmic domains of contacting cells, allowing ionic and metabolic exchange between them and mediating metabolic cooperation thought to optimize the functioning of many tissues. Gap junctions are formed of connexins. Transitional cell carcinoma is one of the malignant tumors which have the highest relapse rate in china. But about 30％ralapse tumor changed worse levels and more attention are paid to it. Until now more and more studies were made on the relation between Connexin and carcinoma. In this study, we use inmmunohistocheistry method to detect Connexin 43 and Connexin26 expression in 105 cases of transitional cell tumors to find its effect in carcinogenesis and progession of transitional cell carcinoma.Materials and Methods1. Materials(1) Specimen collections: this study included 105 cases of human TCC, one case of glandual carcinoma complicated with swelled lymph and twenty cases of normal transitional cell tissues from 2004 to 2005 in our hospital.(2) Main reagents: Connexin 43 and Connexin 26 monoclonal antibody was obtained from Boste Cpompany. SP staining kit, DAB Developer, Antibody Dilution PV9000 kits were obtained from Beijing Zhongshan Biotechnology Company.2. Methods(1) Immunohistochemistry: Connexin 43 and Connexin 26 protein expressions went by SP immunoperoxidase methods.(2) Relationship between the expression of Connexin 43 and Connexin 26 in urology transitional cell carcinoma.(3) Judgment Criterion: Buffy granules in cell membrane and kytoplasm is positive cell, no stain is negative. Judging by cancer cell staining degree, scope, distribution: negative(-); no stained cell,＜20%; light positive(+): 20%＜positive cell＜50%; positive (++): positive cell＞50%.Statistics methods:x~2 test by SPSS 12.0 software.ResultsConnexins43 and Connexins26 protein expressing in cell membrane and kytoplasm is buffy granules; positive rate of Connexin43 Protein expression in transitional cell carcinoma is 46.7%, in normal transitional tissue is 75%, the difference is significant (P＜0.01). Positive rate of Connexin26 protein expression in transitional cell carcinoma is 37.2%, in normal transitional tissue is 70%, the difference is significant, too(P＜0.01). In 105 cases of transitional carcinoma in which cormexin43 and Connexin 26 protein expression is positive, the positive rate is 66.7%, 58.3% in well-differentiated stage; 53.8%, 34.6% in moderately differentiated stage; 31.7%, 29.3% in poorly differentiated stage. Positive rate of Connexin43 and Connexin26 protein expression in poorly differentiated cancer tissue the difference is significant (P＜0.05). Difference of Connexin43 and Connexin26 protein expression positive rate in poorly differentiated and moderately differentiated cancer tissue is also significant (P＜0.05). From well-differentiated to poorly differentiated of Connexin43 and Connexin26 protein expression has negatively correlated with pathology stage (r=-0.717, -0.687, P＜0.05). The Cx43 and Cx26 positive rate in infiltrate, position and metastasis was of no statistic significance(P＞0.05). Connexin43 and Connexin26 protein expression positive rate between clinical stages showed difference but it was of no statistics significance. Connexin43 and Connexin26 protein expression positive rate between postition of tumor didn't reveal distinguished difference. Went by SPSS 12.0, this result is no statistic significance (P＞0.05) The results showed that Cx43 and Cx26 positive rate in TCC was significant lower than that in normal transitional cell tissuesConclusionsThe results indicated that the low expression of Cx43 and Cx26 might play an important role in the development of transitional cell carcinoma and can be used as a predictor of malignance. Expression level of Connexin43 and Connexin26 protein in transitional carcinoma is lower than that in normal transitional tissue. So Connexin may play an important part in carcinogenesis and progression of transitional tumor. Expression level of Connexin43 and Connexin 26 protein has relationship with differentiation and infilstrated staging of transitional carcinoma; its expression level decrease with the decreasing of differentiation and the increasing of pathology stage. So expression level of Connexin43 and Connexin26 protein influence cancer malignant degree and progression and in some extent forecast transitional carcinoma prognosis. Expression positive rate of Connexin43 and Connexin26 in transitional carcinoma is 46.7%, 37.2% and in normal transitional cell is 75%, 70%. Difference between the two teams is significant (P＜0.01). So Connexin43 and Connexin 26 detection can be used as a predictor of malignance.