title: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/APO2L) and its receptors expression in human squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/APO2L) is a novel member of the tumor necrosis factor cytokine family and a potent inducer of apoptosis in tumor cells. TRAIL is expressed in most normal human cells and tissues, including peripheral blood leukocytes, spleen, lung and prostate. However, TRAIL expression in human neoplasms is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated whether TRAIL and its receptors are expressed in human oral squamous cell carcinomas (HOSCCs) or HOSCC cell lines (HSC-2, HSC-3, HSC-4, Ca9-22 and KB) and whether these cells are sensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. TRAIL and its receptor transcripts and proteins were detected in all HOSCC cell lines. A cell viability (MTT) assay performed after exposure to recombinant human (rh) TRAIL for 16 h showed that KB cells were the most sensitive. Immunohistochemical examinations for TRAIL expression were also carried out in a total of 50 HOSCC cases with various types of differentiation. In 17 of 27 WHO Grade 1 SCCs, the tumor invasive areas with keratinization showed diffuse and moderate TRAIL expression. In 6 of 20 WHO Grade 2 SCCs, TRAIL expression was slightly to moderately detected. In 1 of 3 WHO Grade 3 SCCs, a slight TRAIL expression was observed. Thus, there is considerable heterogeneity of TRAIL expression and susceptibility to TRAIL-induced apoptosis among human oral tumors.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Meikai University School of Dentistry, Saitama 350-0283, Japan. fukudam@dent.meikai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masakatsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamao
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Munenori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitada
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusama
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakashita
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000494:pharmacology; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D004396:Coloring Agents; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C105190:TNFRSF10A protein, human; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012313:RNA; C022616:thiazolyl blue