Galanin System in the Human Bile Duct and Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

Sara Huber, Theresia Fitzner, René G Feichtinger, Sarah Hochmann, Theo Kraus, Karl Sotlar, Barbara Kofler, Martin Varga

Cells 2023 Jun 21

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Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is characterised by poor outcomes. Early diagnosis is essential for patient survival. The peptide galanin (GAL) and its receptors GAL1-3 are expressed in various tumours. Detailed characterisation of the GAL system in pCCA is lacking. Our study sought to characterise GAL and GAL1-3 receptor (GAL1-3-R) expression in the healthy human bile duct, in cholestasis and pCCA. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in healthy controls (n = 5) and in the peritumoural tissues (with and without cholestasis) (n = 20) and tumour tissues of pCCA patients (n = 33) using validated antibodies. The score values of GAL and GAL1-3-R expression were calculated and statistically evaluated. GAL and GAL1-R were expressed in various bile duct cell types. GAL2-R was only slightly but still expressed in almost all the examined tissues, and GAL3-R specifically in cholangiocytes and capillaries. In a small pCCA patient cohort (n = 18), high GAL expression correlated with good survival, whereas high GAL3-R correlated with poor survival. Our in-depth characterisation of the GAL system in the healthy human biliary duct and pCCA in a small patient cohort revealed that GAL and GAL3-R expression in tumour cells of pCCA patients could potentially represent suitable biomarkers for survival.

Citation

Sara Huber, Theresia Fitzner, René G Feichtinger, Sarah Hochmann, Theo Kraus, Karl Sotlar, Barbara Kofler, Martin Varga. Galanin System in the Human Bile Duct and Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma. Cells. 2023 Jun 21;12(13)