title: Hox B4 as potential marker of non-differentiated cells in human cervical cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical cancer (CC) is a common malignancy in women worldwide. Cervical tumorigenesis involves a multistep process in which accumulations of genetic alterations are present. Homeotic genes, such as HOX gene re-expression, have been reported in a wide variety of tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to know the role of HOX B4 gene expression in CC, in the present study, two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, and time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used for differential screening of protein expression in CC. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on the cervical tissue microarray (TMA) to detect the Hox B4 protein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hox B4 peptide was detected among 15 increased spots differentially observed in CC. Using TMA, Hox B4 protein was also immunodetected in the nuclei of cervical epithelial tumor cells, while in normal cervical epithelium, it was absent. Interestingly, it was possible to detect the Hox B4 protein in the precursor lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hox B4 protein is present in the precursor lesions as CC cells, suggesting that Hox B4 could be a protein related to the neoplastic state (non-differentiated cells) of human cervical epithelium.
authors: Division de Biologia Molecular, Instittuto Potosino de Investigacion, Ciencia y Tecnologia, Mexico, SLP, Mexico.
authors: Ana P
authors: AP
authors: Barba-de la Rosa
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: Briones-Cerecero
authors: Ofelia
authors: O
authors: Lugo-Melchor
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: De León-Rodríguez
authors: Leticia
authors: L
authors: Santos
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Castelo-Ruelas
authors: Alejandra
authors: A
authors: Valdivia
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Piña
authors: Alicia
authors: A
authors: Chagolla-López
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Hernandez-Cueto
authors: Alejandra
authors: A
authors: Mantilla
authors: Minerva
authors: M
authors: Lazos-Ochoa
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: Gonzalez-Yebra
authors: Mauricio
authors: M
authors: Salcedo
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020543:Proteome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C090460:HOXB4 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D020543:Proteome; D014157:Transcription Factors