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. 1996 Mar;148(3):723–729.

Downregulation of E-cadherin in the reparative epithelium of the human gastrointestinal tract.

A M Hanby 1, R Chinery 1, R Poulsom 1, R J Playford 1, M Pignatelli 1
PMCID: PMC1861718  PMID: 8774128

Abstract

E-cadherin, an epithelial adhesion molecule, is critical for the maintenance of cell polarity and differentiation. We studied the distribution of E-cadherin in normal gut and in enteric ulceration to test the hypothesis that the motility of regenerative epithelium over ulcers is associated with a decrease in E-cadherin expression. Sections of normal stomach, small intestine, and colon were examined for E-cadherin distribution using the antibody HECD-1 and compared with the pattern seen in peptic ulceration and Crohn's disease. A subset was examined by in situ hybridization using 35S radiolabeled E-cadherin riboprobes. A wounding system employing the HT-29 cell line was used as an in vitro model of early healing. In the normal gut uniform strong basolateral staining was seen. Areas of ulceration showed a patchy reduction in membrane localized E-cadherin in regenerating epithelium, even though E-cadherin mRNA was demonstrable in this population. In wounded confluent HT29 layers, migrating cells also showed reduced E-cadherin immunostaining. These data support the notion that the motility of restitutive epithelial cells may relate to altered patterns of E-cadherin and that this may play an important role in the reconstitution of epithelial integrity after mucosal injury.

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Selected References

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