Human α-defensin (DEFA) gene expression helps to characterise benign and malignant salivary gland tumours.
BACKGROUND
Because of the infrequence of salivary gland tumours and their complex histopathological diagnosis it is still difficult to exactly predict their clinical course by means of recurrence, malignant progression and metastasis. In order to define new proliferation associated genes, purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of human α-defensins (DEFA) 1/3 and 4 in different tumour entities of the salivary glands with respect to malignancy.


METHODS
Tissue of salivary glands (n=10), pleomorphic adenomas (n=10), cystadenolymphomas (n=10), adenocarcinomas (n=10), adenoidcystic carcinomas (n=10), and mucoepidermoid carcinomas (n=10) was obtained during routine surgical procedures. RNA was extracted according to standard protocols. Transcript levels of DEFA 1/3 and 4 were analyzed by quantitative realtime PCR and compared with healthy salivary gland tissue. Additionally, the proteins encoded by DEFA 1/3 and DEFA 4 were visualized in paraffin-embedded tissue sections by immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
Human α-defensins are traceable in healthy as well as in pathological altered salivary gland tissue. In comparison with healthy tissue, the gene expression of DEFA 1/3 and 4 was significantly (p<0.05) increased in all tumours - except for a significant decrease of DEFA 4 gene expression in pleomorphic adenomas and a similar transcript level for DEFA 1/3 compared to healthy salivary glands.


CONCLUSIONS
A decreased gene expression of DEFA 1/3 and 4 might protect pleomorphic adenomas from malignant transformation into adenocarcinomas. A similar expression pattern of DEFA-1/3 and -4 in cystadenolymphomas and inflamed salivary glands underlines a potential importance of immunological reactions during the formation of Warthin's tumour.
Department of Periodontology, Operative and Preventive Dentistry, University of Bonn, Welschnonnenstr, 1753111, Bonn, Germany.
Jochen
J
Winter
Annette
A
Pantelis
Dominik
D
Kraus
Jan
J
Reckenbeil
Rudolf
R
Reich
Soeren
S
Jepsen
Hans-Peter
HP
Fischer
Jean-Pierre
JP
Allam
Natalija
N
Novak
Matthias
M
Wenghoefer
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D023084:alpha-Defensins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D023084:alpha-Defensins; C406413:human neutrophil peptide 1; C406427:human neutrophil peptide 3; C406428:human neutrophil peptide 4