title: Increased expression of Toll-like receptor-9 has close relation with tumour cell proliferation in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR-9), a new member of the interleukin-1 receptor superfamily, was recently found to have a high level of expression in many carcinoma specimens. The objective of this study was to examine the TLR-9 expression and its role in tumour cell proliferation in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect TLR-9 protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) Tca-8113 cell lines and clinical specimens (n=60). The relationship between TLR-9 expression and clinicopathologic features was analysed. Cell proliferation and inflammatory chemokines secretion were tested by MTT and ELISA methods respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that TLR-9 expression level was higher in OSCC tissues than in paired adjacent normal tissues (P<0.01), and the expression level of TLR-9 was significantly associated with tumour size (P=0.001), tumour clinical stage (P=0.003) and Ki-67 expression (P<0.01). In vitro results also suggested that stimulation of Tca-8113 cells with TLR-9 agonist CpG-ODN could significantly increase tumour cell proliferation as well as subsequent IL-1α and IL-6 secretions (P<0.01), which could be partially inhibited by usage of anti-TLR-9 protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was therefore hypothesized that increased expression of TLR-9 may be of great value in assessing the development of OSCC, and could be used as a new target for OSCC prevention and therapy in future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated No. 9 People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, PR China.
authors.forename: Ruan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zun
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Siyi
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wenjun
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lizheng
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chenping
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C408982:CPG-oligonucleotide; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9