Phänotypische Charakterisierung von primärkultivierten Tumorstroma-Assoziierten Myofibroblasten bei Kolorektalen Lebermetastasen

Abstract

Myofibroblasts, a mesenchymal cell type in hepatic parenchyma, have unique features with respect to their cellular origin, morphology and function. Myofibroblasts play an important role in pathological conditions such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and also in development of colorectal hepatic metastasis. Myofibroblasts are the predominant cell type producing extracellular matrix (ECM) components as well as ECM degrading metalloproteases in hepatic parenchyma, indicating that they play a pivotal role in ECM remodeling in both normal and pathological conditions. The main goal was to investigate the origin and function of myofibroblasts in colorectal hepatic metastasis. We performed cell cultures from 7 normal liver specimen and 7 colorectal hepatic metastasis. Immunohistochemistry was performed with the Avidin-Biotin-Complex method with different antibodys: vimentin, desmin GFAP, alpha-smooth muscle actin, N-CAM, ICAM-1, CK-7, CK-19, CD90 and VEGE We also stained cryo sections from these specimens with the same antibodies.

The expression of vimentin, alpha-SMA, ICAM-1 and CD90 was srong in the cultured myofibroblasts, whereas desmin and CK7 showed a moderate to strong positive reaction. GFAP, N-CAM, CK19 and VEGF were negative.

We found that that it is possible to culture myofibroblasts from colorectal hepatic metastasis and normal liver. The immunohistochemical correspondence between the cell culture and the cryo sections shows that the myofibroblasts of portal space and sinusoids probably originate the myofibroblasts of colorectal hepatic metastasis.