COX-2 Is Expressed by Myofibroblasts and Their Precursor Cells and Is Relevant to Their Differentiation and, Consequently, Facilitates Tumor Angiogenesis in Min Mouse Intestinal Adenomas

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Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein and mRNA are up-regulated during intestinal tumorigenesis in human and murine models. The cellular localization of COX-2 protein expression was studied by means of immunohistochemistry in Min mouse intestinal tumors. Immunoreactive COX-2 was strongly expressed exclusively in the interstitial cells in the majority of adenomas. Normal epithelial and tumor cells were not stained by COX-2. Von Willebrand factor (VWF) and COX-2 did not show co-localization ; however, COX-2 positive and VWF positive cells were in close physical contact. COX-2 positive cells were also positive for vimentin and desmin. Additionally, COX-2 positive cells were faintly positive for α smooth muscle actin. In contrast, these cells were not stained by immune cell markers. These results suggest that COX-2 is expressed by myofibroblasts, fibroblasts and their precursor cells, probably mesenchymal cells. The data also suggest that COX-2 is relevant in the differentiation of mesenchymal cells to myofibroblasts. The current study suggests that COX-2 plays an important role in the growth of vascular endothelial cells and, consequently, facilitates tumor angiogenesis in MIN mouse intestinal adenomas.
金沢医科大学の論文