title: Increased elafin expression in cystic, dysplastic and neoplastic oral tissues.
abstract: Expression of human leukocyte elastase inhibitor, elafin, otherwise known as skin-derived antileukoproteinase inhibitor (SKALP), was investigated in normal and abnormal oral tissues using a specific anti-SKALP rabbit antiserum. Weak staining was observed in keratinizing epithelia of normal oral mucosa but not in non-keratinizing mucosa. Increased expression was also observed in the suprabasal layers of dysplastic oral epithelia and in well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, but not in basal cell carcinoma. A uniform strong expression was observed in all supra-basal layers of odontogenic keratocyst epithelia, except in regions where inflammatory infiltrate was adjacent to keratocyst epithelia. In contrast, elafin expression in a small number of dentigerous cysts and ameloblastomas was more patchy. The increased levels of elafin in keratocyst epithelia and dysplastic tissue may be a cellular homoeostatic response to generate a protective barrier preventing proteolytic degradation of underlying elastic tissue.
authors.affiliation: Leeds Dental Insitute, West Yorkshire, England.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Markham
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schalkwijk
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: High
mesh_terms: D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003795:Dental Sac / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003803:Dentigerous Cyst / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005881:Gingiva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D053491:Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D053491:Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory; D011506:Proteins; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D007633:Keratins; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases