Summary
A large number of cells containing large eosinophilic granules in their supranuclear cytoplasm was observed in a well differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach and its metastases. These cells were identified as Paneth cells by electron microscopy and by their content of lysozyme. Lysozyme-immunoreactivity was well preserved after fixation of tumor tissue in liquid formaldehyde followed by postfixation in osmium tetroxide. Immunoreactivity at immunoelectron microscopy was confined to the large osmiophilic secretory granules. We conclude that morphologically and biochemically differentiated Paneth cells occasionally occur in neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnon, R.: Immunochemistry of lysozyme. In: Immunochemistry of enzymes and their antibodies, Salton, M.R.J. (ed.), pp. 1–28. New York, London, Syndney, Toronto: J. Wiley 1977
Baetens, D., Rufener, C., Srikant, B.C., Dobbs, R., Unger, R., Orci, L.: Identification of glucagon-producing cells (A cells) in dog gastric mucosa. J. Cell Biol. 69, 455–464 (1976)
Baskin, D.G., Erlandsen, S.L., Parsons, J.A.: Immunocytochemistry with osmium-fixed tissue. I. Light microscopic localization of growth hormone and prolactin with the unlabeled antibody-enzyme method. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 27, 867–872 (1979)
Deckx, R.J., Vantrappen, G.R., Parein, M.M.: Localization of lysozyme activity in a Paneth cell granule fraction. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 139, 204–207 (1967)
Erlandsen, S.L., Parsons, J.A., Taylor, T.D.: Ultrastructural immunocytochemical localization of lysozyme in the Paneth cells of man. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 22, 401–413 (1974)
Ghoos, Y., Vantrappen, G.: The cytochemical localization of lysozyme in Paneth cell granules. Histochem. J. 3, 175–178 (1971)
Gibbs, N.M.: Incidence and significance of argentaffin and Paneth cells in some tumours of the large intestine. J. Clin. Pathol. 20, 826–831 (1967)
Hardmeier, Th.: Hochdifferenzierte Tumoren des Magen-Darm-Traktes mit argentaffinen und Paneth'schen Zellen. Z. Krebsforsch. 68, 172–178 (1966)
Holmes, E.J.: Neoplastic Paneth cells. Their occurrence in 2 adenomas and 1 carcinoma of the colon. Cancer 18, 1416–1422 (1965)
Kerr, A.B., Lendrum, A.C.: A chloride-secreting papilloma in the gall-bladder. Br. J. Surg. 23, 615–639 (1935–1936)
Klockars, M., Osserman, E.F.: Localization of lysozyme in normal rat tissue by an immunoperoxidase method. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 22, 139–146 (1974)
Klockars, M., Reitamo, S., Reitamo, J.J., Möller, C.: Immunohistochemical identification of lysozyme in intestinal lesions in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Gut 18, 377–381 (1977)
Lane, B.P., Europa, D.L.: Differential staining of ultrathin sections of epon-embedded tissues for light microscopy. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 13, 579–582 (1965)
Lewin, K.: Neoplastic Paneth cells. J. Clin. Pathol. 21, 476–479 (1968)
Lewin, K.: The Paneth cell in disease. Gut 10, 804–811 (1969)
Mason, D.Y., Taylor, C.R.: The distribution of muramidase (lysozyme) in human tissues. J. Clin. Pathol. 28, 124–132 (1975)
Miyajima, H., Takeuchi, T.: Paneth cell tumor. An additional case of duodenal adenoma with malignant change. Beitr. Path. 157, 419–425 (1976)
McColl, I., Bussey, H.J.R., Veale, A.M.O., Morson, B.C.: Juvenile polyposis coli. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med. 57, 896–897 (1964)
Montero, C., Erlandsen, S.L.: Immunocytochemical and histochemical studies on intestinal epithelial cells producing both lysozyme and mucosubstance. Anat. Rec. 190, 127–142 (1978)
Otto, H.F.: Die intestinale Paneth-Zelle. In: Veröff. Morph. Path., Giese, W., Büngeler, W., Seifert, G., Peters, G. (eds.). Stuttgart: G. Fischer 1974
Peters, T., Vantrappen, G.: The Paneth cell: a source of intestinal lysozyme. Gut 16, 553–558 (1975)
Pryzwansky, K.B., Martin, L.E., Spitznagel, J.K.: Immunocytochemical localization of myeloperoxidase, lactoferrin, lysozyme and neutral proteases in human monocytes and neutrophilic granulocytes. J. Reticuloendothel. Soc. 24, 295–310 (1978)
Rodning, C.B., Wilson, I.D., Erlandsen, S.L.: Immunoglobulins within human small intestinal Paneth cells. Lancet 1, 984–987 (1976)
Sandow, M.J., Whitehead, R.: The Paneth cell. Gut 20, 420–431 (1979)
Scharfenberg, J.C., DeCamp, P.T.: Neoplastic Paneth cells. Occurrence in an adenocarcinoma of a Meckel's diverticulum. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 64, 204–208 (1975)
Schmid, K.O., Auboeck, L., Albegger, K.: Endocrine-amphicrine enteric carcinoma of the nasal mucosa. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 383, 329–343 (1979)
Speece, A.J.: Histochemical distribution of lysozyme activity in organs of normal mice and radiation chimeras. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 12, 384–391 (1964)
Spicer, S.S., Staley, M.W., Wetzel, M.G., Wetzel, B.K.: Acid mucosubstance and basic protein in mouse Paneth cells. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 15, 225–242 (1967)
Stern, J.B., Sobel, H.J.: Jejunal carcinoma with cells resembling Paneth cells. Arch. Pathol. 72, 47–50 (1961)
Sternberger, L.A.: Immunocytochemistry, 2nd ed. New York, Chichester, Brisbane, Toronto: J. Wiley 1979
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We are indebted to Dr. H.W. Aenishänslin, consultant of gastroenterology, and Dr. M. Rossetti, head of the surgical department of the Kantonsspital Liestal, for providing clinical and endoscopic findings.
The expert technical assistance of Miss M. Kasper and Miss G. Krey is gratefully acknowledged.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heitz, P.U., Wegmann, W. Identification of neoplastic paneth cells in an adenocarcinoma of the stomach using lysozyme as a marker, and electron microscopy. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 386, 107–116 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432648
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432648