Expression Profile and Potential Roles of EVA1A in Normal and Neoplastic Pancreatic Tissues

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> EVA1A (eva-1 homolog A) is a novel gene that regulates programmed cell death throughautophagy and apoptosis. Our objective was to investigate the expression profiles and potential role of EVA1Ain normal and neoplastic human pancreatic tissues. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: The expression pattern of EVA1Ain normal pancreatic tissue was examined by indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Proteinlevels in paraffin-embedded specimens from normal and diseased pancreatic and matched non-tumor tissueswere evaluated by immunohistochemistry. <br/><b>Results</b>: EVA1A colocalized with glucagon but not with insulin,demonstrating production in islet alpha cells. Itwas strongly expressed in chronic pancreatitis, moderately orweakly expressed in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm in pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma, and absent innormal pancreatic acinar cells. Although the tissue architecture was deformed, EVA1A was absent in the alphacells of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, mucinous cystadenomas,solid papillary tumors and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: EVA1A protein is specificallyexpressed in islet alpha cells, suggesting it may play an important role in regulating alpha-cell function. Theectopic expression of EVA1A in pancreatic neoplasms may contribute to their pathogenesis and warrants furtherinvestigation.