title: Myofibroblasts from salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinomas promote cancer invasion by expressing MMP2 and CXCL12.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is one of the most common malignant tumours in the oral and maxillofacial region, and has high aggressive potential. Tumour and stroma interactions are critical in determining the biological characteristics of malignancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of myofibroblasts and their roles in the invasive characteristics of ACC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of vimentin (VIM), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and CD34 in ACCs and normal salivary gland controls. A significant difference in α-SMA expression was found between normal controls and ACCs, suggesting the presence of myofibroblasts in ACCs. Immunohistochemical staining also demonstrated higher MMP2 expression in the stroma of ACCs than in the controls (P < 0.001). Primary culture of myofibroblasts from one ACC showed great invasive activity, with high expression of MMP2 and C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated the presence of myofibroblasts in ACC. Myofibroblasts might be related to the aggressive growth behaviour of ACC, owing to their high levels of expression of MMP2 and CXCL12.
authors.affiliation: Section of Oral Pathology, College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
authors.forename: Haijie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Fuyin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Dongyuan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiaojie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tingjiao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D054426:Chemokine CXCL2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C499706:CXCL2 protein, human; D054426:Chemokine CXCL2; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
keywords: CXCL12; MMP2; adenoid cystic carcinoma; invasion; myofibroblasts