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Vaes N, Lentjes MHFM, Gijbels MJ, Rademakers G, Daenen KL, Boesmans W, Wouters KAD, Geuzens A, Qu X, Steinbusch HPJ, Rutten BPF, Baldwin SH, Sharkey KA, Hofstra RMW, van Engeland M, Vanden Berghe P, Melotte V. NDRG4, an early detection marker for colorectal cancer, is specifically expressed in enteric neurons. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2017; 29. [PMID: 28524415 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Promoter methylation of N-myc Downstream-Regulated Gene 4 (NDRG4) in fecal DNA is an established early detection marker for colorectal cancer (CRC). Despite its connection to CRC, NDRG4 is predominantly studied in brain and heart, with little to no knowledge about its expression or role in other organs. In this study, we aimed to determine the whole-body expression of NDRG4, with a focus on the intestinal tract. METHODS We investigated NDRG4 expression throughout the body by immunohistochemistry, Western Blotting and in situ mRNA hybridization using tissues from NDRG4 wild-type, heterozygous and knockout mice and humans. In addition, we explored cell-specific expression of NDRG4 in murine whole-mount gut preparations using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. KEY RESULTS NDRG4 is specifically expressed within nervous system structures throughout the body. In the intestinal tract of both mouse and man, NDRG4 immunoreactivity was restricted to the enteric nervous system (ENS), where it labeled cell bodies of the myenteric and submucosal plexuses and interconnecting nerve fibers. More precisely, NDRG4 expression was limited to neurons, as NDRG4 always co-localized with HuC/D (pan-neuronal marker) but never with GFAP (an enteric glial cell marker). Furthermore, NDRG4 was expressed in various neuropeptide Y positive neurons, but was only found in a minority (~10%) of neurons expressing neuronal nitric oxide synthase. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES NDRG4 is exclusively expressed by central, peripheral and enteric neurons/nerves, suggesting a neuronal-specific role of this protein. Our findings raise the question whether NDRG4, via the ENS, an understudied component of the tumor microenvironment, supports CRC development and/or progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Vaes
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - M H F M Lentjes
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - M J Gijbels
- Departments of Pathology and Molecular Genetics, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - G Rademakers
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - K L Daenen
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - W Boesmans
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Laboratory for Enteric Neuroscience (LENS); Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - K A D Wouters
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - A Geuzens
- Laboratory for Enteric Neuroscience (LENS); Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - X Qu
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - H P J Steinbusch
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - B P F Rutten
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - S H Baldwin
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - K A Sharkey
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - R M W Hofstra
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University of Rotterdam, EMC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M van Engeland
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - P Vanden Berghe
- Laboratory for Enteric Neuroscience (LENS); Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - V Melotte
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, University of Rotterdam, EMC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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