Expression of type 2 nitric oxide synthase and vascular endothelial growth factor in oral dysplasia.
OBJECTIVE
The small molecule nitric oxide (NO), produced by a family of enzymes called NO synthase (NOS), has a diverse array of functions in both physiologic and pathologic states. Prolonged production of NO by the isoform NOS2 has been implicated in human cancer progression. NO has an important role in angiogenesis, being both an upstream signal and a downstream effector molecule to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The latter group of proteins are crucial for vascular endothelial cell proliferation and permeability. The expression of VEGF increases with cancer progression. Because angiogenesis is a prerequisite for the development of invasive cancer, this immunohistochemical study investigated the expression of NOS2 and VEGF in oral epithelial dysplasia.


METHODS
An immunohistochemical study was performed using monoclonal antibodies to NOS2 and VEGF on archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue of 33 cases of oral dysplasia.


RESULTS
A significant correlation was found between NOS2 and VEGF expression in oral dysplasia (P <.001). Expression of both NOS2 and VEGF also correlated with the severity of dysplasia (P <.001, P <.002).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings may provide further understanding to the complex transformation of oral epithelial dysplasia to invasive carcinoma and the role of angiogenesis in this process.
Brennan
Peter A
PA
Specialist Registrar, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Poole Hospital, Poole, Dorset, England. NOS2@btinternet.com
Umar
Tijjani
T
Wilson
Alan W
AW
Mellor
Timothy K
TK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II