title: Altered expression of desmocollin 3, desmoglein 3, and beta-catenin in oral squamous cell carcinoma: correlation with lymph node metastasis and cell proliferation.
abstract: Desmocollin 3 (Dsc3) and desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) are both transmembrane glycoproteins that belong to the cadherin family of calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules. beta-Catenin is a member of the cadherin-catenin complex that mediates homotypic cell-cell adhesion and is also an important molecule in the wnt signaling pathway. In this study, we examined the simultaneous expression level of Dsc3, Dsg3, and beta-catenin in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) and normal oral epithelia using immunohistochemistry. There was a significant correlation (p < 0.05) among the following variables in OSCCs: reduced or loss of expression of Dsc3, Dsg3, and beta-catenin compared to normal oral epithelium, reduced or loss of expression of Dsc3 and histological grade (moderately or poorly differentiated), and reduced or loss of expression of beta-catenin and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between reduced or loss of beta-catenin staining and reduced or loss of Dsc3 staining in lymph node metastatic cancer tissue (r = 0.734, p < 0.05). These results suggest an abnormal expression of Dsc3, Dsg3, and beta-catenin induced in the progression of oral carcinomas and that the Dsc3 expression level might be related to the regulation of beta-catenin in lymph node metastasis and cell proliferation in OSCCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, School of sciences, Graduate School of Northeastern University, Shenyang 110006, China. wanglihong523@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tingjiao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.forename: Rodelio L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.forename: Ayataka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D051187:Desmocollins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051184:Desmoglein 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; C490356:DSC3 protein, human; C071894:DSG3 protein, human; D051187:Desmocollins; D051184:Desmoglein 3; D051176:beta Catenin