title: Integrin receptors and their relationship to cellular proliferation and differentiation of oral squamous cell carcinoma. A quantitative immunohistochemical study.
abstract: The expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (fibronectin, laminin, collagen IV) and ECM receptors of integrin type (alpha 2 beta 1, collagen receptor; alpha 6 chain of the fibronectin receptor; alpha 6 chain of the laminin receptor) were examined in normal oral squamous epithelium and in invasive areas of squamous cell carcinomas with various differentiation and proliferation activities (Ki-67 antigen labelling), evaluating the presence, quantity (using an image analysis system) and distribution of the integrin subunits. In the mucosa, there was uniform immunostaining for alpha 2 beta 1 and alpha 6 concentrated at the cell membrane in the basal/supra basal cell zone, whereas, alpha 5 showed a discontinuous staining of the basal cell-basement membrane interface. alpha 2 and alpha 6 could be visualized in all carcinomas. alpha 5 showed low expression preferentially in less differentiated carcinomas. In contrast to normal mucosa, there was an increase in alpha 6 staining in well-differentiated carcinomas. Dedifferentiation of oral carcinomas was accompanied by an increase in cellular proliferation and with a decrease in alpha 2 beta 1 and alpha 6 staining. This reduction of alpha 6 staining was shown to be statistically significant, suggesting that this integrin may be a valuable grading parameter for oral squamous cell carcinoma.
mesh_terms: D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000235:genetics; D016023:Integrins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D007797:Laminin / Q000235:genetics; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D038981:Receptors, Collagen; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin / Q000235:genetics; D017474:Receptors, Laminin / Q000235:genetics; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D007797:Laminin; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D038981:Receptors, Collagen; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D017474:Receptors, Laminin; D003094:Collagen