title: Down-regulation of connexin43 and connexin32 in keratocystic odontogenic tumours: potential association with clinical features.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to explore the potential involvement of connexin43 (Cx43) and connexin32 (Cx32), two vital members of the connexin families, in the pathogenesis of keratocystic odontogenic tumours (KCOT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of Cx43 and Cx32 in human KCOT and normal oral mucosa (OM) tissues were measured using immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The relationship between Cx43 and Cx32 expression and markers of proliferation [proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin D1], anti-apoptosis [B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)] and autophagy [light chain 3 (LC3), Sequestosome 1 p62 (p62)] was then investigated in the KCOT samples. The results showed that Cx43 and Cx32 expression was down-regulated significantly in KCOT samples relative to OM samples. Meanwhile, the expression levels of Cx43 and Cx32 were correlated negatively with the expression levels of PCNA, cyclin D1, Bcl-2, LC3 and p62, as confirmed further by double-labelling immunofluorescence analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reveals for the first time that Cx43 and Cx32 are down-regulated in KCOT and suggests an association with growth regulation, anti-apoptosis and autophagy in KCOT.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Qun
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xue-Peng
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Jian-Gang
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017630:Connexins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein; C500216:GJA1 protein, human
keywords: apoptosis; autophagy; connexin; keratocystic odontogenic tumour; proliferation