[Expression of connexin43 and connexin45 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
The gap junction plays an important role in the exchange of nutrients, ions, and regulatory molecules between cells. It will result in an uncontrolled cell proliferation if it is abnormal. It was reported that some cancer tissues and cancer cells had abnormal gap junction and restoration of the gap junction function could revert the cancer cells to a normal phenotype. Therefore, to investigate the expression of connexin(cx) in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma, may provide a new way for clinical diagnosis and the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.


METHODS
The expressions of Cx43 and Cx45 in the biopsies of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) and chronic nasopharyngitis tissues were determined by using the immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
1. Cx43 and Cx45 expressed differentially in NPC and chronic nasopharyngitis tissues(P < 0.01). In NPC, expression of Cx43 and Cx45 were 44.8% and 46.6%, respectively, while in columnar cells of chronic nasopharyngitis tissues, their expressions were 86.5% and 100% respectively, which were higher than those in NPC, 2. The percentage in squamous epithelial cells of chronic nasopharyngitis tissues was 29.7%, which was lower than that in NPC, (56.9%). 3. The expressions of Cx43 and Cx45 in paracancer columnar epithelial cells were lower than that in paracancer squamous epithelial cells (P < 0.001), but higher than that in NPC cells (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The abnormal expression of Cx43 and Cx45 in nasopharynx tissues may be associated with cancerization and squamatization of human nasopharynx tissue.
Xiang
Qiu
Q
Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410078, P. R. China.
Fan
Song-qing
SQ
Li
Jiang
J
Tan
Cheng
C
Xiang
Juan-juan
JJ
Zhang
Qiu-hong
QH
Wang
Rong
R
Li
Gui-yuan
GY
D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017630:Connexins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins; C082920:connexin 45