Differentiation-dependent expression of growth regulatory cytokines and their receptors in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.
Cytokines, such as IFN-alpha and TNF-alpha are capable of affecting keratinocyte proliferation in the microenvironment of the tumor. Their elevated expression along with high levels of their receptor mRNAs was determined by a semiquantitative reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method in biopsies of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas that were established as histologically well or moderately differentiated. In contrast, tumors with poor differentiation exhibited low levels of these growth suppressive factors, although levels of their receptors were elevated. In fact, expression of these growth suppressive cytokines highly correlated with the histological status of tumors suggesting a role of these agents in growth regulation of those tumors. Apparently, growth signaling in these tumors differs in the availability of either the ligand or the receptor.
Arany
I
I
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-1070, USA.
Brysk
M M
MM
Chen
Z
Z
Adler-Storthz
K
K
Tyring
S K
SK
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha