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Immunohistochemical and Biochemical Studies with Region-Specific Antibodies to Chromogranins A and B and Secretogranins II and III in Neuroendocrine Tumors

Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology volume 30, pages 1147–1153 (2010)Cite this article

A Commentary to this article was published on 19 November 2010

Abstract

This short review deals with our investigations in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) with antibodies against defined epitopes of chromogranins (Cgs) A and B and secretogranins (Sgs) II and III. The immunohistochemical expression of different epitopes of the granin family of proteins varies in NE cells in normal human endocrine and non-endocrine organs and in NETs, suggesting post-translational processing. In most NETs one or more epitopes of the granins were lacking, but variations in the expression pattern occurred both in benign and malignant NETs. A few epitopes displayed patterns that may be valuable in differentiating between benign and malignant NET types, e.g., well-differentiated NET types expressed more CgA epitopes than the poorly differentiated ones and C-terminal secretoneurin visualized a cell type related to malignancy in pheochromocytomas. Plasma concentrations of different epitopes of CgA and CgB varied. In patients suffering from carcinoid tumors or endocrine pancreatic tumors the highest concentrations were found with epitopes from the mid-portion of CgA. For CgB the highest plasma concentrations were recorded for the epitope 439–451. Measurements of SgII showed that patients with endocrine pancreatic tumors had higher concentrations than patients with carcinoid tumors or pheochromocytomas. SgIII was not detectable in patients with NETs.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    Guida M. Portela-Gomes

  2. Department of Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

    Lars Grimelius

  3. Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

    Mats Stridsberg

  4. Rua Domingos Sequeira-128, S. Pedro do Estoril, 2765-525, Estoril, Portugal

    Guida M. Portela-Gomes

Authors
  1. Guida M. Portela-Gomes
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  2. Lars Grimelius
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  3. Mats Stridsberg
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Correspondence to Guida M. Portela-Gomes.

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A commentary to this article can be found at doi:10.1007/s10571-010-9552-6.

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Portela-Gomes, G.M., Grimelius, L. & Stridsberg, M. Immunohistochemical and Biochemical Studies with Region-Specific Antibodies to Chromogranins A and B and Secretogranins II and III in Neuroendocrine Tumors. Cell Mol Neurobiol 30, 1147–1153 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-010-9585-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-010-9585-x

Keywords

  • Chromogranin A
  • Chromogranin B
  • Secretogranin II
  • Secretogranin III
  • Neuroendocrine tumor
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Plasma concentration measurements