title: Up-regulation of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in oral squamous cell carcinoma: relation to cell differentiation.
abstract: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL, also known as lipocalin2,             LCN2) is a secreted glycoprotein with increased expression in solid tumors. The             expression and functions of NGAL in oral cancer, however, remain unclear. We investigated             the expression of NGAL in oral cancer tissues and oral cancer cell lines. By immunohistochemical             examinations, NGAL expression was strongly up-regulated in well-differentiated             OSCC tissues and moderately to weakly up-regulated in moderately to poorly differentiated             OSCC tissues. In contrast, NGAL expression was weak or very weak in normal mucosa             and leukoplakia. By western blot analysis, NGAL expression levels positively correlated             with cell morphology patterns and loss of E-cadherin. In addition, the enzymatic             activity of the NGAL/MMP-9 complex significantly correlated with the results obtained             by zymographic analysis. In conclusion, NGAL expression is high in well-differentiated             cancer, suggesting that NGAL may be a useful diagnostic marker of tumor-cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hyogo College of                     Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hiromoto
authors.forename: Kazuma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Michiyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamura
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zushi
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Segawa
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takaoka
authors.forename: Kuniyasu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moridera
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urade
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D057075:Enzyme Assays; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D066246:ErbB Receptors; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9