Mechanism of development of gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic-gland type: Gene Expression Analysis

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16952
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Sakaguchi Yoshiki 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (20791445)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 胃底腺型胃癌 / NKX2-1/TTF-1 / SFTPB

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Comprehensive gene expression analysis identified 1410 up-regulated and 1395 down-regulated gene probes; two-fold difference in expression. Among the top 30 up-regulated genes in GA-FG, we identified transcription factor NKX2-1/TTF-1, a master regulator of lung/thyroid differentiation, together with surfactant protein B (SFTPB), SFTPC, and secretoglobin family 3A member 2(SCGB3A2), which are regulated by NKX2-1/TTF-1. Immunohistochemical analysis of GA-FG specimens demonstrated significantly higher NKX2-1/TTF-1 and SFTPB levels, as compared to that in adjacent normal mucosa (P < 0.05), while SCGB3A2 levels did not differ (P = 0.341). Transduction of NKX2-1/TTF-1 into AGS and NUGC4 cells induced transactivation of SFTPB and SFTPC, indicating that NKX2-1/TTF-1 can function as normally in gastric cells as it can in the lung cells.

Free Research Field

消化器内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

NKX2-1/TTF-1は今まで肺・甲状腺の分化を特異的に担う転写因子と報告されており、肺癌における予後規定因子であると報告されている。一方で、他臓器の正常組織での発現や、他臓器癌の発生に関与しているという既報なない。本研究でNKX2-1/TTF-1が肺癌以外の癌組織において高発現することを初めて示したことは意義が大きい。
またNKX2-1/TTF-1および下流のSFTPBなどの遺伝子群が胃底腺型胃癌の発生において重大な役割を担うことを初めて示したことも重要な知見であり、今後の胃癌発生研究に大きく貢献すると思われる。