title: Toll-like receptor 2 is present in the microenvironment of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) on cells associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma, epithelial dysplasia and irritative hyperplasia, using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More immune cells expressed TLR2 in carcinoma and dysplasia than in hyperplasia (P<0.001). No hyperplastic samples showed positive TLR2 staining on keratinocytes, whereas keratinocytes in 64% of cases of carcinoma and 74% of cases of dysplasia were TLR2 positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive TLR2 expression in the microenvironment suggests activation of immune surveillance against the altered epithelium, whereas TLR2 expression by malignant keratinocytes may be indicative of resistance to apoptosis as a pro-survival mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Group, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, PO Box 647, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hussaini
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Horne
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Seymour
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2