Colon fibroblasts from Pirc rats (F344/NTac-Apcam1137) exhibit a proliferative and inflammatory phenotype that could support early stages of colon carcinogenesis

Abstract

The role of fibroblast APC mutation in carcinogenesis is not clear. Apc+/− colon fibroblasts have been previously characterized: however, little is known about their behavior at very early-stage of colon carcinogenesis. We cultured colon mucosa fibroblasts (PCF, Apc+/−) of Pirc rats (F344/NTac-Apcam1137) at an early stage of tumorigenesis, in absence of preneoplastic lesions, and of age-matched wt (WCF): DNA damage levels, inflammatory phenotype and the expression of known markers of CAFs were analyzed. The latter were also assessed by microarray analysis on colon normal mucosa of Pirc and wt animals. PCF exhibited higher proliferative rates (P