Expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin and p120ctn in the pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma

SummaryBackgroundThe major two types of cells in pulmonary sclerosing hemangiomas (PSH) may be not equally maturity, but this viewpoint needs more evidences.AimTo determine E-cadherin, β-catenin and p120ctn expression phenotype in cuboidal and polygonal cells, which are the two major cell types in pulmonary sclerosing hemangiomas.MethodsSpecimens were obtained from 25 patients with PSH and 8 patients with pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors. The expression levels of E-cadherin, β-catenin and p120ctn were detected using a streptavidin peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemical method.ResultsE-cadherin, β-catenin and p120ctn were expressed strongly on the cuboidal cell membranes, while β-catenin was also expressed the cuboid cytoplams in 25 PSH patients. However, in the polygonal cell membranes, the expression levels of these molecules were decreased, and mainly cytoplamic. Specifically, E-cadherin, β-catenin and p120ctn were expressed in both the cytoplasm and on the cell membranes in the intracavitary lining cells of the hemorrhagic regions. The expression phenotype in proliferating type II pneumocytes in the eight pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors was similar to that in the cuboidal cells in PSH patients.ConclusionThe cuboidal cells, resembling inflammatory proliferative type II pneumocytes, display several characteristics of epithelial cells, including normal expression of E-cadherin and catenin. Comparatively, polygonal cells are not as mature as cuboidal cells and lack of expression of E-cadherin and catenin.