title: Desmoglein-3/γ-catenin and E-cadherin/ß-catenin differential expression in oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate gene/protein expression alterations of intercellular connections' components in oral leukoplakia (OLs) and squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of desmogleins-2,3 (Dsg2/Dsg3), E-cadherin, and their cytoplasmic ligand, β/γ-catenins were quantitatively assessed in HSC-3 cells growing as monolayer cultures (ML)/multicellular aggregates (MCAs), using RT-PCR/Western blot, whereas their localization was detected by immunofluorescence. Furthermore, their expression was semi-quantitatively investigated in tissues from 25 OLs/25 OSCCs, using automated immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The steady-state levels of Dsg3 RNA transcripts increased as HSC-3 cells enter their exponential phase of growth, before a dramatic decrease to be observed as cells reached their plateau phase especially in MCAs. Upon the same period of time, Dsg2 levels have been increased. The expression of γ-catenin but not that of β-catenin was increased after 48 h in both MLs and MCAs. In clinical samples, Dsg3, Ε-cadherin, β/γ-catenin down-regulation was observed to be associated with the grade of OLs-dysplasia and OSCCs. Importantly, a membrane-to-cytoplasmic switch of expression and strong perinuclear aggregation of Dsg3/γ-catenin was seen in both HSC-3 cells and OLs/OSCCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The altered expression of Dsg3/γ-catenin and E-cadherin/β-catenin, in vitro and in ODs/OSCC imply their involvement in growth regulation and phenotype of dysplastic/malignant oral epithelial cells, contributing to the better understanding of epithelial dysplasia and OSCCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed alterations of their expression suggest a role of Dsg3 and γ-catenin (additionally to E-cadherin/β-catenin) as biomarkers of malignant transformation risk of oral dysplasia and the biological behavior (aggressiveness) of oral cancer, respectively.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Marianthi
authors: M
authors: Kyrodimou
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Andreadis
authors: Angeliki
authors: A
authors: Drougou
authors: Elsa P
authors: EP
authors: Amanatiadou
authors: Lefteris
authors: L
authors: Angelis
authors: Calypso
authors: C
authors: Barbatis
authors: Apostolos
authors: A
authors: Epivatianos
authors: Ioannis S
authors: IS
authors: Vizirianakis
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D051184:Desmoglein 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000378:metabolism*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; C071894:DSG3 protein, human; D051184:Desmoglein 3