Kyrodimou M, Andreadis D, Drougou A, Amanatiadou EP, Angelis L, Barbatis C, Epivatianos A, Vizirianakis IS. Desmoglein-3/γ-catenin and E-cadherin/ß-catenin differential expression in oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma.
Clin Oral Investig 2013;
18:199-210. [PMID:
23430339 DOI:
10.1007/s00784-013-0937-z]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 01/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate gene/protein expression alterations of intercellular connections' components in oral leukoplakia (OLs) and squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCCs).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Expression of desmogleins-2,3 (Dsg2/Dsg3), E-cadherin, and their cytoplasmic ligand, β/γ-catenins were quantitatively assessed in HSC-3 cells growing as monolayer cultures (ML)/multicellular aggregates (MCAs), using RT-PCR/Western blot, whereas their localization was detected by immunofluorescence. Furthermore, their expression was semi-quantitatively investigated in tissues from 25 OLs/25 OSCCs, using automated immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS
The steady-state levels of Dsg3 RNA transcripts increased as HSC-3 cells enter their exponential phase of growth, before a dramatic decrease to be observed as cells reached their plateau phase especially in MCAs. Upon the same period of time, Dsg2 levels have been increased. The expression of γ-catenin but not that of β-catenin was increased after 48 h in both MLs and MCAs. In clinical samples, Dsg3, Ε-cadherin, β/γ-catenin down-regulation was observed to be associated with the grade of OLs-dysplasia and OSCCs. Importantly, a membrane-to-cytoplasmic switch of expression and strong perinuclear aggregation of Dsg3/γ-catenin was seen in both HSC-3 cells and OLs/OSCCs.
CONCLUSIONS
The altered expression of Dsg3/γ-catenin and E-cadherin/β-catenin, in vitro and in ODs/OSCC imply their involvement in growth regulation and phenotype of dysplastic/malignant oral epithelial cells, contributing to the better understanding of epithelial dysplasia and OSCCs.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The observed alterations of their expression suggest a role of Dsg3 and γ-catenin (additionally to E-cadherin/β-catenin) as biomarkers of malignant transformation risk of oral dysplasia and the biological behavior (aggressiveness) of oral cancer, respectively.
Collapse