title: Expression of the serine protease DESC1 correlates directly with normal keratinocyte differentiation and inversely with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As part of ongoing studies aimed at identifying the molecular events involved in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression, we recently isolated a novel serine protease, DESC1. This study was conducted to further characterize DESC1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens of normal, dysplastic, and carcinomatous oropharyngeal mucosa (n = 31) were evaluated for DESC1 immunoreactivity using standard streptavidin-biotin immunoperoxidase techniques. Between-lesion stain intensity values were analyzed using multiple Wilcoxon tests. DESC1 expression was also evaluated in cultured human keratinocytes after induction of differentiation by calcium challenge, with subsequent real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction quantification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DESC1 immunoreactivity decreased as lesions approached a malignant phenotype. Post hoc testing comparing the different lesion types and DESC1 staining values showed significance between "normal" and "carcinoma" (p = .0017) groups. Induction of normal keratinocyte differentiation by calcium challenge was accompanied by an increase in DESC1 expression (p = .002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest downregulation of DESC1 during squamous cell carcinoma progression and upregulation during normal epithelial differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Dental Anesthesiology, Ohio State University, College of Dentistry, 305 West 12th Avenue, 2196 Postle Hall, Columbus, OH 43218-2357, USA. sedghizadeh.1@osu.edu
authors.forename: Parish P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Sedghizadeh
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mallery
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kresty
authors.forename: F Michael
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: E Kenneth
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biancamano
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases