Relationship between cell proliferation and tenascin-C expression in canine gastrointestinal tumours and normal mucosa

Abstract Tenascin-C is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that has been implicated in cell proliferation and adhesion by in vitro experiments. Its expression is known to be increased in canine and human gastrointestinal tumours. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between cell proliferation and tenascin expression in these tumours. In tissue sections of normal stomach, small intestine and colon, and gastrointestinal epithelial tumours, the monoclonal antibody Ki-67, which is directed against a proliferation-associated nuclear antigen, was used to identify proliferating cells. Serial sections were also stained for tenascin. Serial sections stained for tenascin and Ki-67 were compared to determine whether there is a correlation between tenascin expression and tumour cell proliferation. In the normal gastric mucosa, Ki-67 positive cells were confined to the neck region and in the normal small intestinal mucosa positive cells were confined to the lower parts of the crypts. In adenomas and carcinomas, the frequency of positive cells was increased at the edges of adenomas and invasive tumour margins of carcinomas and there was inter- and intra-tumoural heterogeneity. Carcinomas with lymphatic invasion showed a high Ki-67-index. There was no relation between cell proliferation and tenascin expression in both normal tissues and tumours studied. The absence of a correlation between tenascin and Ki-67 expression suggests that the main function of tenascin in both normal tissues and tumours of the canine gastrointestinal tract is antiadhesion rather than proliferation.