Immunohistochemical localization of heparan sulfate proteoglycan in human gastrointestinal tract

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HS-PGs) are associated with important cell f unctions, for example, cell motility, cell adhesion, and oncogenesis. We ex amined the localization of HS-PGs in normal and carcinoma tissues of the ga strointestinal tract to help elucidate their roles in these organs. Fresh s urgical materials from 134 patients with carcinoma of the stomach or large intestine and 26 patients with various diseases of the small intestine were immunostained after fixation with 10E4 (an antibody against the HS of HS-P G) as a primary antibody. Immunoelectron microscopy (immunogold method) was also performed. The basolateral surfaces of normal tissues of the large an d small intestines were strongly stained with antibody confirmed by electro n microscopy. In the stomach, lesions with intestinal metaplasia showed the same staining as the intestines, although normal gastric tissue showed sta ining only in some parts of the basal layer of fundic and pyloric glands. C arcinoma tissues in all cases examined showed staining with antibody. Bette r results were obtained after fixation in acetic alcohol or zinc-containing solutions than in ordinary formalin. These characteristic localizations of HS-PG in intestines and stomachs suggest that this kind of HS-PG staining could be a hallmark characteristic of the intestine.