Nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity in human bladder carcinoma

• Published in: Molecular pathology Vol. 54; no. 4; pp. 248 - 252
• Main Authors: Shochina, M, Fellig, Y, Sughayer, M, Pizov, G, Vitner, K, Podeh, D, Hochberg, A, Ariel, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists 01-08-2001; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; British Medical Journal Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bladder cancer; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - enzymology; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - parasitology; Development and progression; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Medical sciences; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Nitric oxide; nitric oxide synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase - analysis; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Physiological aspects; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis - enzymology; Tropical medicine; Tumor Cells, Cultured - enzymology; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary Bladder Diseases - enzymology; Urinary Bladder Diseases - parasitology; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - enzymology; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - parasitology; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Urothelium - embryology; Urothelium - enzymology; Asia; Israel; United Kingdom; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Urinary system disease; Enzyme; Trematode disease; Parasitosis; Malignant tumor; Urinary tract disease; Transitional cell carcinoma; Helminthiasis; Carcinogenesis; Nitric-oxide synthase; Infection; Pathology; Schistosomiasis; Urinary bladder; Bladder disease; Oxidoreductases; Comparative study; Histochemistry
• ISSN: 1366-8714; 1472-4154
• DOI: 10.1136/mp.54.4.248

Aims—To study the expression of the endothelial and inducible isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (eNOS and iNOS, respectively) in human bladder carcinoma and schistosomal bladder disease, and to compare it with normal adult and fetal urothelium. Nitric oxide is thought to play a complex role in human carcinogenesis, but has only recently been investigated in bladder cancer. Methods—Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin wax embedded sections of 33 human bladder carcinomas and five bladder carcinoma cell lines; in addition, seven schistosomal bladder cases and normal and fetal urothelium were investigated. In the cell lines enzymatic activity was examined by the NADPH diaphorase reaction. Results—Immunoreactivity for eNOS was present in most cells of all 31 cases examined. Immunoreactivity for iNOS was less abundant and was seen in 23 of 25 cases. Similar findings were noted in schistosomal bladder cancer. In the normal bladder mucosa, eNOS immunoreactivity was found only in the superficial cell layer and iNOS was not expressed, whereas in the fetal urothelium immunoreactivity for both isoforms was seen in all cell layers. Enzymatic activity and immunoreactivity for eNOS and iNOS were evident in the five bladder carcinoma cell lines. Conclusions—It is possible that NOS plays a role in the differentiation of the transitional epithelium in fetal life, has a biological function in the adult bladder mucosa, and is involved in bladder carcinogenesis. eNOS and iNOS immunoreactivity do not differ in schistosomal and non-schistosomal bladder carcinoma, but resemble the pattern of expression typical of fetal urothelium.