title: Growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor splice variant 1 is frequently expressed in oral squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: The expression of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) splice variant 1 (SV1) receptor in neoplastic lesions of the oral cavity was assessed. The sensitivity of HaCaT keratinocytes to GHRH analogs was also evaluated. Thirty-three benign precancerous oral lesions and 27 squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for SV1 expression. SV1 expression in HaCaT keratinocytes was assessed by western blot. HaCaT proliferation was evaluated by cell counting. Anti-SV1 immunoreactivity was detected in only 9% (three of 33) precancerous lesions (one hyperplasia and two dysplasias), while 44% (12 of 27) carcinomas were positive for SV1 (p<0.002). GHRH(1-29)NH(2) and GHRH agonist JI-38 stimulated HaCaT proliferation in vitro, and this effect was blocked by GHRH antagonists. These results indicate that SV1 expression may be associated with the transition of precancerous lesions to carcinomas of the oral epithelium. GHRH antagonists may be useful for the management of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Athens Medical School, M. Asias 75, 115 27 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dioufa
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farmaki
authors.forename: Andrew V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Schally
authors.forename: Hippokratis
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiaris
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vlahodimitropoulos
authors.forename: Athanasios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Papavassiliou
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kittas
authors.forename: Norman L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: Ioulia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chatzistamou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone