Immunohistochemical inflammation in histologically normal gallbladders containing gallstones

Psaltis, Emmanouil; Zaitoun, Abed M.; Neal, Keith R.; Lobo, Dileep N.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to establish features of inflammation in histologically normal gallbladders with gallstones and compare the expression of inflammatory markers in acutely and chronically inflamed gallbladders. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gallbladders for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2R, and substance p in three groups: Group I (n=60) chronic cholecystitis, Group II (n=57) acute cholecystitis and Group III (n=45) histologically normal gallbladders with gallstones. Expression was quantified using the H-scoring system. Results: Median, interquartile range expression of mucosal IL-2R in Groups I (2.65, 0.87–7.97) and II (12.30, 6.15–25.55) was significantly increased compared with group III (0.40, 0.10–1.35, p<0.05). Submucosal IL-2R expression in Groups I (2.0, 1.12–4.95) and II (10.0, 5.95–14.30) was also significantly increased compared with Group III (0.50, 0.15–1.05, p<0.05). There was no difference in the lymphoid cell IL-6 expression between Groups I (5.95, 1.60–18.15), II (6.10, 1.1–36.15) and III (8.30, 2.60–26.35, p>0.05). Epithelial IL-6 expression of Group III (8.3, 2.6–26.3) was significantly increased compared with group I (0.5, 0–10.2, p<0.05) as was epithelial TNF-α expression in Group III (85.0, 70.50–92.0) compared with Groups I (72.50, 45.25.0–85.50, p<0.05) and II (61.0, 30.0–92.0, p<0.05). Lymphoid cell Substance P expression in Groups I (1.90, 1.32–2.65) and II (5.62, 2.50–20.8) was significantly increased compared with Group III (1.0,1.0–1.30, p<0.05). Epithelial cell expression of Substance P in Group III(121.7, 94.6–167.8) was significantly increased compared with Groups I (75.7, 50.6–105.3, p<0.05) and II (78.9, 43.5–118.5, p<0.05). Conclusion: Histologically normal gallbladders with gallstones exhibited features of inflammation on immunohistochemistry.

Citation

Psaltis, E., Zaitoun, A. M., Neal, K. R., & Lobo, D. N. (2024). Immunohistochemical inflammation in histologically normal gallbladders containing gallstones. World Journal of Surgery, 48(7), 1662-1673. https://doi.org/10.1002/wjs.12219

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 10, 2024
• Online Publication Date: May 22, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-07
• Deposit Date: May 20, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: May 20, 2024
• Journal: World Journal of Surgery
• Print ISSN: 0364-2313
• Electronic ISSN: 1432-2323
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 48
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 1662-1673
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/wjs.12219
• Keywords: gallbladder, inflammation, immunohistochemistry, cholecystitis, gallstones
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/35145004
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wjs.12219