title: Human collagenase-3 is expressed in malignant squamous epithelium of the skin.
abstract: Co-expression of several members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family is a characteristic of human carcinomas. To investigate the role of the recently cloned collagenase-3 (MMP-13) in epidermal tumors, we studied samples representing malignant (basal and squamous cell carcinoma, Paget's disease), pre-malignant (Bowen's disease, solar keratosis), and benign (keratoacanthoma, seborrheic keratosis, linear epidermal nevus) tumors. Basal cell carcinomas expressed collagenase-3 mRNA in focal areas of keratinized cells, the squamous differentiation of which was confirmed by positive immunostaining for involucrin. Apoptosis was observed in central parts of these foci. In squamous cell carcinomas, collagenase-3 expression was detected at the epithelial tumor front and less frequently in the surrounding stromal cells. Collagenase-3 mRNA co-localized with immunostaining for laminin-5, an adhesion molecule suggested to participate in the migration of tumor cells. The pre-malignant and benign tumors were mostly negative for collagenase-3. Stromelysin-1, a potential activator of latent collagenases, was frequently expressed by stromal cells surrounding the malignant tumors, and the two MMPs occasionally co-localized in keratotic foci. Our results demonstrate that in basal cell carcinomas, expression of collagenase-3 is associated with terminal differentiation of epithelial cells. Furthermore, the gene is activated during skin carcinogenesis, and we suggest a role for collagenase-3 in degradation of the extracellular matrix associated with malignant epithelial growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Airola
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kariniemi
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Kähäri
authors.forename: U K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Saarialho-Kere
mesh_terms: D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D017364:Collagenases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000502:physiology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000235:genetics; D010145:Paget Disease, Extramammary / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics; D015347:RNA Probes / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000201:enzymology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D000097794:Kalinin
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003094:Collagen; D017364:Collagenases; D005819:Genetic Markers; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000097794:Kalinin; C507079:MMP13 protein, human