Fifty-two Mongolian gerbils were divided into 3 groups and given 5 biweekly doses of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (30 ppm). At week 12, group 2 (n = 20) and group 3 (n = 22) gerbils were then given an injection of H. pylori, while group 1 controls (n = 10) received Brucella broth alone. In addition, 7 weeks after H. pylori inoculation, at week 19, group 3 gerbils also received a 36-week administration course of celecoxib (1,500 ppm) in their diet. The incidence of gastric adenocarcinoma was determined at week 54 by histological analysis. COX-2 and Cdx2 protein expression and COX activity were evaluated for each group. The extent of intestinal metaplasia, Cdx2 and mucin 2 expression, and the apoptotic index were evaluated semi-quantitatively by immunohistochemistry.
The incidence of gastric adenocarcinoma was: group 1, 0% (0/10); group 2, 65% (13/20), and group 3, 23% (5/22; p < 0.05). Continuous celecoxib administration significantly reduced COX activity and COX-2 protein expression, Cdx2 and mucin 2 protein immunoreactivity, and the extent of Alcian blue periodic acid-Schiff-positive intestinal metaplasia in H. pylori-infected gerbils. Celecoxib also induced apoptosis in these gerbils. Significant inhibition of Cdx2 expression in group 3 gerbils was also shown by Western blot analysis.
The study shows that prior to the first appearance of intestinal metaplasia, timely administration of celecoxib prevents gastric cancer occurrence by disrupting the progression of intestinal metaplasia into gastric carcinoma through its inhibition of Cdx2 expression in N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-pretreated H. pylori-infected Mongolian gerbils.
Carla Holmes | Source: alphagalileo
Further information: www.karger.com
More articles from
Studies and Analyses:
New Study Identifies Link between Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers in Healthy Adults
02.12.2008 | IOS Press BV
New Global blueprint to treat childhood cancer
02.12.2008 | The Institute of Cancer Research
High-speed cutting for medical engineering
02.12.2008 | Medical Engineering
Semantic desktop paves the way for the semantic web
02.12.2008 | Information Technology
Collective solution to accessing the internet via satellite
02.12.2008 | Information Technology
Dublin to host Europe’s largest interdisciplinary science conference in 2012
28.11.2008 | Event News
28.11.2008 | Event News
The Automobile – The Transition from Energy Guzzler to Power Supplier
20.11.2008 | Event News