title: Expression of the gene encoding secretor type galactoside 2 α fucosyltransferase (FUT2) and ABH antigens in patients with oral lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to evaluate the expression of FUT2 gene in saliva and histo ABH antigens of patients with oral lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total 178 subjects were examined, half of whom suffered from oral pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions, while the other half were the healthy control group We analyzed the FUT 2 polymorphism by ASO-PCR (allele specific oligonucleotid - polymerase chain reaction) with specific primers for G428 allele and the wild type allele of FUT2 gene. To reveal A, B and H antigens in tissue sections of the patients (n= 89) we used a modified specific red cell adherence technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a high intensity of oral disease in the non-secretor group (OR = 2.43). A total of 58% of the patients with oral pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions was non secretors (se_/_), in contrast with the healthy population (21.5%). A strongly positive reaction was defined as a sheet of indicator erythrocytes adhered to the epithelial cells. In 31 of the 54 samples analyzed the test showed slightly positive results on atypical areas, and there was a complete antigen deletion in areas affected by neoplasia. Nineteen samples showed a total absence of ABH antigens in both histologically normal and pathological areas. Blood group antigens were expressed at a high level in benign and highly differentiated malignant tumors. In poorly differentiated malignant tumors, they were mostly absent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering these results we suggest the use of this method to monitor probable preneoplastic lesions in risk population, especially in those with no secretor status (absence of FUT2 gene).
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campi
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Escovich
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Racca
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Racca
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cotorruelo
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biondi
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005647:Fucosyltransferases / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D000097631:Galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D005647:Fucosyltransferases; D000097631:Galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase