High-molecular-weight fibronectin synthesized by adenoid cystic carcinoma cells of salivary gland origin

The Role of BTBD7 in Normal Development and Tumor Progression

BTB/POZ domain-containing protein 7 (BTBD7) has a relative molecular weight of 126KD and contains two conserved BTB/POZ protein sequences. BTBD7 has been shown to play an essential role in normal human development, precancerous lesions, heat-stress response, and tumor progression. BTBD7 promotes branching morphogenesis during development and participates in the salivary gland, lung, and tooth formation. Furthermore, many studies have shown that aberrant expression of BTBD7 promotes heat stress response and the progression of precancerous lesions. BTBD7 has also been found to play an important role in cancer. High expression of BTBD7 affects tumor progression by regulating multiple pathways. Therefore, a complete understanding of BTBD7 is crucial for exploring human development and tumor progression. This paper reviews the research progress of BTBD7, which lays a foundation for the application of BTBD7 in regenerative medicine and as a biomarker for tumor prediction or potential therapeutic target.

Immunophenotypical alterations with impact on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinomas

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is one of the most common malignant salivary glands neoplasms with an indolent clinical course, slow-growing but locally aggressive and quite often with delayed recurrence and distant metastasis. In order to elucidate this tumoral behavior, we conducted an immunohistochemical study investigating the alterations of epithelial phenotype with anti-cytokeratin (CK) AE1/AE3 and anti-E-cadherin antibodies, and the acquisition of mesenchymal phenotype with vimentin, fibronectin, N-cadherin and P-cadherin in salivary ACCs. Thus, we recorded a reduction of CK AE1/AE3, E-cadherin, P-cadherin and fibronectin reactivity in the solid variant and especially in the cells from the periphery of invasive neoplastic proliferations, regardless histological type. These phenotypical alterations suggest the involvement of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in the progression of salivary ACCs.

Fibronectin in development and wound healing

Fibronectin structure and composition regulate contextual cell signaling. Recent advances have been made in understanding fibronectin and its role in tissue organization and repair. This review outlines fibronectin splice variants and their functions, evaluates potential therapeutic strategies targeting or utilizing fibronectin, and concludes by discussing potential future directions to modulate fibronectin function in development and wound healing.

Cytoplasmic expression of SOX9 as a poor prognostic factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma

Transcription factor SRY-box 9 (SOX9) is a key regulator of chondrocyte differentiation and sex determination, and it is also involved in the progression of various types of human cancer. However, its putative association with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains elusive. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression profiles of SOX9 in various oral epithelial lesions, including OSCC. We performed immunohistochemical analysis of SOX9 expression in surgical specimens of OSCC, which simultaneously exhibited different grades of epithelial lesions, and analyzed the correlation between SOX9 expression and several clinicopathological factors. Moreover, we performed immunofluorescent staining, western blot analysis and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to assess SOX9 expression in OSCC HSC-3 (a metastatic cell line) and HSC-4 (a non-metastatic cell line) cell lines. In surgical specimens, SOX9 expression was detected in the nuclei of proliferating cells in areas with epithelial dysplasia and carcinoma in situ, but not in areas with normal epithelia. Nuclear SOX9 expression was observed in most SCC cells. Notably, cytoplasmic SOX9 expression was confirmed only in some SCC cells; however, cytoplasmic SOX9 expression was significantly and positively correlated with poor clinical outcomes. Both protein and mRNA expression of SOX9 were significantly higher in the HSC-3 cell line than that in the HSC-4 line. Notably, however, only HSC-3 cells exhibited cytoplasmic localization of SOX9 expression. Our findings indicate that SOX9 may be involved in the tumorigenesis and progression of OSCC. Furthermore, its cytoplasmic expression represents a potential predictive biomarker for tumor aggressiveness and OSCC prognosis.

Occurrence of soluble supra-molecular FN–fibrin complexes in the plasma of children with recurrent respiratory infection

Objectives

Fibronectin (FN) is able to bind fibrin and FN–fibrin complexes and is found in the plasma of some patients suffering from inflammatory disease. The present study was undertaken to determine whether soluble supra-molecular FN–fibrin complexes were present in the plasma of children with recurrent respiratory infections (RRI).

Design and methods

The frequency of occurrence and relative amounts of the supra-molecular FN–fibrin forms, concentrations of immunoglobulins and numbers of natural killer cells (NK) were determined in the plasma of children with recurrent respiratory infections. The frequencies of these parameters were compared with their frequencies in the plasma of children with acute respiratory infections and plasma from healthy children.

Results

SDS-agarose immunoblotting of patients’ plasma revealed the presence of several additional FN–fibrin bands, with decreasing electrophoretic mobilities and increasing molecular masses of 750 kDa, 1000 kDa, 1300 kDa, 1600 kDa and 1900 kDa. Such FN–fibrin complexes occurred with higher frequency and in larger amounts in the plasma of children with RRI and acute infection than they did in plasma from normal children. Moreover, bands above 1000 kDa were absent in most young healthy individuals. The occurrence of FN–fibrin complexes did not correlate with either immunoglobulin concentrations, or with the number of NK cells.

Conclusions

The occurrence of plasma supra-molecular FN–fibrin complexes is associated with acute and recurrent respiratory infections of children.

Alterations in molecular status of plasma fibronectin associated with aging of normal human individuals

OBJECTIVES

Senescence, progressive deterioration of many bodily functions might be associated with age-dependent alterations of plasma fibronectin (FN) molecular status (i.e., domain, glycotope, and molecular form expressions).

DESIGN AND METHODS

FN molecular status was analyzed in 127 plasma samples of healthy individuals in groups of newborns, and subjects aged 3-14, 15-39, 41-59, and 60-82 years by FN-ELISA, lectin-FN-ELISA, and immunoblotting using a set of domain-specific monoclonal antibodies, specific lectins, and monoclonal antibody to FN, respectively.

RESULTS

During the first four decades of human life the levels of cell-binding-, carboxyl-terminal-, collagen-, heparin-, and fibrin-domains of plasma FN gradually increased. In subjects aged up to 82 years the cell-binding and carboxyl-terminal FN domain concentrations did not change, while the heparin, fibrin, and collagen domains significantly increased. The relative reactivity of plasma FN with Maackia amurensis lectin, specific to α2,3-linked sialic acid, significantly decreased after birth, reaching a stable level in the subsequent life period, whereas with Sambucus nigra lectin, specific to α2,6-linked sialic acid, it significantly decreased in the 60-82 year old group. Moreover, the appearance of 280-kDa and 320-kDa FN bands, absent in young and mature healthy individuals, was found in the groups of 41-59 and 60-82 year olds.

CONCLUSIONS

The alterations of FN molecular status throughout growth, maturation and senescence might be associated not only with disturbances in the balance of FN production rate and degradation, but concomitantly with conformational rearrangements of FN and its engagement in age-related vascular remodeling processes.

Parenchymal-stromal switching for extracellular matrix production on invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma

It is poorly understood which cell type, tumor cells, or stromal cells are responsible for the production of extracellular matrix molecules in the neoplastic stroma. We studied the expression of 4 extracellular matrix molecules at the protein and messenger RNA levels in monocellular and 2 kinds of coculture systems between human squamous cell carcinoma (ZK-1) and fibroblast (OF-1) cell lines, which may correspond to carcinoma in situ and squamous cell carcinoma, respectively. Squamous cell carcinoma and carcinoma in situ tissue sections were also investigated by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for extracellular matrix. Immunohistochemically, perlecan and tenascin C were localized in carcinoma cells in carcinoma in situ, whereas they were in the stromal space in squamous cell carcinoma. In monocellular culture conditions, expression levels for perlecan, tenascin C, and laminin were more predominant in ZK-1 than in OF-1, although those for fibronectin were more enhanced in OF-1. However, these extracellular matrix expression levels of OF-1 were elevated, whereas those of ZK-1 dropped when they were in coculture conditions. The differences between ZK-1 and OF-1 were significantly more evident in direct contact (ZK-1/OF-1, 56%-22%) than in indirect contact (63%-39%). These results indicate that oral squamous cell carcinoma cells produce extracellular matrix in the absence of stromal fibroblasts (or in carcinoma in situ) and that they stop producing extracellular matrix in the presence of fibroblasts (or in squamous cell carcinoma). It is hence suggested that stromal fibroblasts after direct contact with invading squamous cell carcinoma cells are more responsible than squamous cell carcinoma cells for the formation of neoplastic stroma, whereas carcinoma in situ cells have to produce and deposit extracellular matrix by themselves to form intraepithelial microstromal spaces.

Fibronectin molecular status determination useful to differentiate between rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus patients

To find whether the plasma fibronectin (FN) molecular status can be useful to differentiate between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The expression of plasma FN domains was determined by ELISA using monoclonal domain-specific antibodies. FN molecular forms were revealed by immunoblotting and analyzed by densitometry. The following findings were found: (1) Mean values of ^{Fibrin–Heparin}FN concentration were lower in SLE and RA patients than in normal plasmas. The cut off points at 31 mg/l in SLE and at 45 mg/l in RA showed a sensitivity and specificity of 54, 55 and 75%, respectively. (2) Mean values of concentrations of ^CBDFN and ^CtFN were lower in SLE than those in normal and RA plasmas. Quantified data showed the cut off points of ^CBDFN and ^CtFN at 200 mg/l (58% of sensitivity, 56% of specificity) and 350 mg/l (58% of sensitivity, 58% of specificity) in SLE, as well as at 295 mg/l (52% of sensitivity, 51% of specificity) and 460 mg/l in RA (70% of sensitivity, 73% of specificity). (3) The plasma FN immunopatterns, characterized by the presence of high-molecular (260–310 kDa) and/or low-molecular (158–209 kDa) FN bands, were specific only for SLE samples. The analysis of plasma FN status revealed by its Fibrin-Heparin-, CBD- and Ct-domain reactivity with monoclonal antibody and immunoblotting can be helpful to differentiate the SLE in respect to RA and normal plasmas.

Metastasis-associated genes in oral squamous cell carcinoma and salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma: a differential DNA chip analysis between metastatic and nonmetastatic cell systems

Overall modes of differential gene expressions were analyzed between human oral/salivary carcinoma cell systems with (MK-1 and ACCM) and without (ZK-1/ZK-2 and ACC2/ACC3) metastatic potential by using micro-array analysis with cancer-associated DNA chips to determine the kinds of genes associated with metastatic behaviors. MK-1 and/or ACCM showed lower levels of gene expression in extracellular matrix-related molecules, such as collagen type IV, laminin, and adhesion molecules such as cadherin 2, but higher levels of genes which control extracellular matrix degradation, such as MMP 9, as well as cell growth and cycle, such as FGF7 and cyclin D1. Among the differentially expressed genes, similar protein expression tendencies for FGF7, laminin, cyclin D1, and collagen type IV were confirmed by immunofluorescence. Metastatic potentials of oral/salivary carcinoma cells seem to have resulted from certain combinations of over-/underexpression of the genes, which were responsible for extracellular matrix metabolism and cell growth in particular.

Mapping of candidate tumor suppressor genes on chromosome 12 in adenoid cystic carcinoma

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a common malignancy of salivary glands, for which the underlying genetic mechanisms of tumorigenesis are poorly understood. Prior studies in ACC have identified deletions in chromosome 12. To further characterize these changes, we performed an extensive LOH analysis in 58 ACC using a panel of 28 microsatellite markers. Results show 66% overall genetic loss. Three markers (D12S1713, D12S2196, D12S398) are contiguous and define a 6.84 Mb region of deletion at 12q13.11-q13.13. Two other markers (D12S2078, D12S1628) are also contiguous and define a 4.5 Mb region of deletion at 12q24.32-q24.33. The three remaining markers, D12S1056 at 12q14.1, D12S1051 at 12q23.1 and D12S1636 at 12q23.3 define smaller regions of deletion. An analysis of microarray gene expression profiling data available for ACC shows several genes with significant transcriptional downregulation that map to these areas of genetic deletion. This combined genetic and genomic analysis provides several candidate genes to test for functional tumor suppressor activity in ACC.

Establishment and characterization of new cell lines derived from melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy arising in the mandible

Three cell systems (MINT1/2/3) derived from a melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) arising in the mandible of a 1-month-old newborn boy have been established, and their cytological natures have been characterized. The cells had immunopositivities for pan-keratin, vimentin, neuron-specific enolase, S-100 protein and melanoma-associated antigen (HMB-45). These immunohistochemical phenotypes were basically the same as those observed in tissue sections, in which, synaptophysin, myelin basic protein, c-myc gene products, carcinoembryonic antigen, and epithelial membrane antigen were also immunolocalized in tumor cells. Karyotyping analyzes revealed that the chromosome numbers of the three cell systems ranged from 60 to 67 with 3n ploidies, and that there were many structural aberrations, such as del(11)(q13), del(22)(q13), add(2)(p11), add(7)(q22), extra copies for chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 20, and 22, der(9)t(9;13)(p13;q12)add(9)(q34), and der(13;21)(q10;q10), which were shared by the three cell systems, while der(19)t(11;19)(q13;p13) was found in MINT1 and MINT3. When stimulated by endothelin-3 and vitamin D(3), the cells had spinous cell shapes with immunopositivities for HMB-45, neurofilament protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein, which indicated more neural differentiation. The established cell systems will be useful for further investigation on the molecular and genetic basis of MNTI to understand its pathogenesis, which is largely unknown.

Recruitment of osteoclasts in the mandible of osteopetrotic (op/op) mice

Osteoclasts in osteopetrotic (op/op) mice are substantially reduced by the absence of functional activities of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). However, it is known that osteoclasts appear in op/op skeletal bones with aging, although the molecular mechanism for this is unknown. In order to investigate osteoclastic recruitment in the jaw bones of op/op mice, osteoclastic distribution was analysed for 2 yr after birth by histochemistry for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity and immunohistochemistry for cathepsin K. Osteoclasts in op/op mandibular bones decreased rapidly in number after birth and disappeared by 3 d, although there was no difference in the osteoclastic distribution between op/op and normal littermates at birth. At 2 wk, osteoclasts began to reappear around op/op tooth germs, where no apparent connective tissue layer intervened between tooth germs and bone trabeculae. They increased in number and were scattered over the mandible, reaching a maximum at 8 wk, when periodontal ligament-like structures were recognizable around incisor germs. Osteoclasts then again decreased gradually, and after 62 wk few osteoclasts were seen in op/op mandibular bones, whose marrow space disappeared. These findings suggest that osteoclasts are recruited in an M-CSF-independent manner in op/op mandibles, especially in areas around tooth germs.

Salivary gland neoplasms

Treatment and cure of salivary gland neoplasms requires surgical intervention in most cases. For parotid neoplasms, the most common surgical procedure performed is the superficial parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation. Postoperative radiation therapy is indicated in high-grade salivary gland malignancies and malignancies with increased risk of locoregional recurrence. Primary radiation, including neutron beam techniques, may play a role in certain histologic types or nonoperative candidates. Chemotherapy has yet to result in improvements in survival or quality of life in the treatment of salivary gland malignancy. Advances in radiation therapy techniques, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy, provide opportunities for reduced morbidity.