Alterations in expression of retinoid receptor beta and p53 in oral submucous fibrosis.
OBJECTIVE
Knowledge of the molecular pathogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), a potentially malignant condition with high risk of transition to oral cancer, is meagre. Alterations in the expression of retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta) and tumor suppressor gene, p53 are early events in oral tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations in the expression of RARbeta and p53 in OSF lesions and determine their association with disease pathogenesis.


METHODS
The expression of RARbeta and p53 proteins was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 50 cases of OSF and 30 histologically normal oral tissues.


RESULTS
No detectable RARbeta expression was observed in 35 of 50 (70%) OSF cases. p53 protein accumulation was observed in 24 of 50 (48%) OSF cases analyzed. Thirty-six percent OSF lesions showed loss of RARbeta and p53 overexpression. Interestingly, 41 of 50 (82%) of OSF lesions showed altered expression of at least one of these two proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
Altered expression of either RARbeta or p53 in majority of OSF lesions suggests their association with disease pathogenesis and warrants follow-up to determine whether OSF lesions harboring concomitant alterations in RARbeta and p53 are at a high risk of transition to malignancy.
Kaur
J
J
Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Chakravarti
N
N
Mathur
M
M
Srivastava
A
A
Ralhan
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007120:Immunochemistry; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C082925:retinoic acid receptor beta