Activation of Notch signaling in human tongue carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Involvement of Notch signaling in several tumors is well known, but its role in tongue squamous cell carcinoma remains poorly characterized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the roles of Notch signaling in the oncogenesis of tongue carcinoma.


METHODS
Tumor specimens and adjacent non-neoplastic tongue tissues from 74 patients with tongue carcinoma and human tongue carcinoma cell line Tca8113 were examined using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR to determine the expressions of Notch1, Notch3, Jagged1, and Jagged2.


RESULTS
The mRNA expressions of Notch1, Notch3, Jagged1, and Jagged2 were detected in Tca8113, tongue carcinoma, and adjacent non-neoplastic tongue tissues. The expression levels of mRNAs in tongue carcinoma were higher than those in adjacent non-neoplastic tongue tissues (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical examination showed that the Notch signal molecules were expressed in Tca8113, tongue carcinoma, and adjacent non-neoplastic tongue tissues. The expression rates of Notch1 and Notch3 protein in tongue carcinoma were higher than those in adjacent non-neoplastic tongue tissues (χ² = 6.10, P = 0.013; χ² = 3.94, P = 0.047). Notch1 and jagged1 were significantly more highly expressed in lymph node metastasis-positive tongue carcinoma (χ² = 6.108, P = 0.013; χ² = 7.354, P = 0.025). In addition, expressions of Notch3 and Jagged2 were highly correlated in tongue carcinoma tissues (χ² = 42.130, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Expressions of Notch receptors and ligands in tongue carcinoma and adjacent non-neoplastic tongue tissues suggest that Notch signaling may control cell differentiation and proliferation of carcinoma cells. The disorder of Notch signaling may be a mechanism of the tongue carcinoma development.
Zhang
Tong-Han
TH
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Liu
Hai-Chao
HC
Zhu
Li-Jun
LJ
Chu
Mei
M
Liang
Yu-Jie
YJ
Liang
Li-Zhong
LZ
Liao
Gui-Qing
GQ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D000072101:Jagged-2 Protein; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051881:Receptor, Notch1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071656:Receptor, Notch3; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000378:metabolism*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C000606273:JAG1 protein, human; C490504:JAG2 protein, human; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D000072101:Jagged-2 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C497761:NOTCH1 protein, human; C499374:NOTCH3 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D000071656:Receptor, Notch3; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins