A quantitative co-localization analysis of large unspliced tenascin-C(L) and laminin-5/gamma2-chain in basement membranes of oral squamous cell carcinoma by confocal laser scanning microscopy.
BACKGROUND
A structural interaction of the oncofetal large tenascin-C splice variants (Tn-C(L)) and the gamma2-chain of laminin-5 (Ln-5/gamma2) was recently demonstrated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In situ different patterns of co-localization and co-deposition of both proteins could be detected. Especially the co-localization in re-established basement membrane (BM) structures seemed to be biologically meaningful within the process of tumour progression.


METHODS
The amount of Tn-C(L) incorporated in reorganized OSCC BM structures at the tumour margins was investigated by a laser scanning microscopy-based quantitative co-localization analysis.


RESULTS
In the BM of normal oral mucosa no Tn-C(L) could be detected. In dysplastic and neoplastic oral mucosa a distinct co-localization of Tn-C(L) and Ln-5/gamma2 in the BM region could be observed. The extent of Tn-C(L) arrangement into reorganized BM structures correlated with malignancy grade.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest at first, a modulation of carcinomatous BM structures by the inclusion of oncofetal matrix proteins during tumour progression and secondly, the BM incorporation of the adhesion-modulating molecule Tn-C(L) as a pre-invasive structural phenomenon in OSCC.
Franz
Marcus
M
Institute of Pathology, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.
Hansen
Torsten
T
Borsi
Laura
L
Geier
Christiane
C
Hyckel
Peter
P
Schleier
Peter
P
Richter
Petra
P
Altendorf-Hofmann
Annelore
A
Kosmehl
Hartwig
H
Berndt
Alexander
A
D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis; D019063:Tenascin / Q000032:analysis*
C400567:LAMC2 protein, human; D007797:Laminin; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D019063:Tenascin