title: Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in human gingival carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are responsible for the hydrolysis of the second messengers, cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cyclic GMP (cGMP), to their corresponding monophosphates with a fundamental role in the transduction of the intracellular signals. At least 11 different enzymatic isoforms have been identified, which are listed according to their specificity or affinity for the substratum, identity of the amino acid sequence, cofactor, and inhibitor sensitivity. Variations in PDE activity have been found in different pathologies, and they have also been correlated to different pathological e/o physiological mechanisms, such as cellular differentiation, apoptosis, and tumor invasivity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we have evaluated cAMP PDE activity in patients with carcinoma of the gingiva, with the purpose of correlating differences in its development and progression. The same enzymatic activity has been used to evaluate differences between patients with lymph node involvement (group N(+)), and patients without lymph node involvement (N(-)).
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis of PDE activity and the cAMP assay was performed by reverse-phase HPLC on samples of fresh or frozen gingival tissues. Analysis of cAMP was confirmed with the enzyme-linked immunoabsorption assay (EIA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differences between control and N(-) groups (P = 0.0433), and between control and N(+) groups (P = 0.0156) were statistically significant. PDE3A was also evaluated immunohistochemically in lymph-node negative and lymph-node positive cases. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P = 0.0397).
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Sciences of Oral & Dental Diseases, 'G. D'Annunzio' University, 66013 Chieti, Italy. spoto@unich.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spoto
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fioroni
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rubini
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Nicola
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Pietrantonio
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Matteo
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piattelli
mesh_terms: D015105:3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016015:Logistic Models; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000201:enzymology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D015105:3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases