Fibroblast growth factor receptor expression reflects cellular differentiation in human oral squamous carcinoma cell lines.
This study examined the expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR 2) splice variants, IIIb and IIIc, in normal and malignant human oral keratinocytes and in normal oral fibroblasts by RT-PCR using both exon-specific primers and primers common to both FGFR 2 isoforms. Fibroblasts expressed exclusively FGFR 2/IIIc whilst the normal and malignant keratinocytes co-expressed FGFR 2/IIIb and FGFR 2/IIIc. Well-differentiated keratinocytes expressed proportionally more FGFR 2/IIIb than IIIc whereas the poorly-differentiated cells expressed more FGFR 2/IIIc than IIIb. The normal and malignant keratinocytes, but not fibroblasts, expressed an additional amplification product, which consisted of both IIIb and IIIc of FGFR 2 joined by an extra base pair and with the intronic sequence removed. The results indicate that the expression of FGFR 2 isoforms reflects the degree of cellular differentiation in normal and malignant human oral keratinocytes and that receptor complexes of FGFR 2/IIIb and IIIc may regulate ligand-receptor interactions.
Department of Oral and Dental Science, University of Bristol, UK.
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Drugan
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Paterson
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Prime
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012326:RNA Splicing; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*
D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; C496353:FGFR2 protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2