Epithelial cell nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma pathogenesis.
BACKGROUND
Molecular events following nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) activation by nicotine are poorly understood. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt/PTEN pathway has been suggested to play a role in the antiapoptotic responses to nicotine.


METHODS
To elucidate the possible role of aalpha3, alpha5 and alpha7 nAChR subunit mediated PI3-K/Akt/PTEN pathway activation in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) development, mRNA was isolated from 30 HNSCC tissues of known Akt activation state and were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
alpha3, alpha5 and alpha7 nAChR subunits were expressed in 1/30 (3.33%), 15/30 (50%) and 10/30 (33.33%), respectively. These results did not correlate with pAkt levels, previously assessed in our laboratory, or any of the clinicopathological parameters considered.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report on nAChR subunit expression in human HNSCC surgical specimens of known pAkt levels. Our results suggest that nAChRs might exert their function through pathways different from PI3-K/Akt/PTEN and that alpha3, alpha5 or alpha7 nAChR subunit expression might not be useful prognostic markers in HNSCC.
Carracedo
Dario Garcia
DG
Instituto Universitario de Oncologia del Principado de Asturias, Obra Social CajAstur (IUOPA), c/ Celestino Villamil s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
Rodrigo
Juan Pablo
JP
Nieto
Carlos Suarez
CS
Gonzalez
Maria Victoria
MV
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt