title: SPARC is associated with carcinogenesis of oral squamous epithelium and consistent with cell competition.
abstract: The matricellular protein, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is thought to be involved in cell competition. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of SPARC in cancerization of oral squamous epithelium. Clinical specimens from 57 pre- and early cancerous lesion, 66 invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and controls were immunostained with SPARC. Clinical features and SPARC expression were evaluated. Furthermore, effects of SPARC knockdown and overexpression were examined in oral cancer and keratinocyte cell lines. Leukoplakia, carcinoma in situ, and early invasive SCC had more SPARC-positive cells than normal mucous epithelium. However, there were no significant differences between leukoplakia, carcinoma in situ, and early SCC, and there were no correlations between SPARC immunoreactivity and prognosis of invasive oral SCCs. Cell proliferation was down-regulated by SPARC siRNA, and enhanced by SPARC transformed keratinocytes. But SPARC overexpression did not enhance cell migration activity. SPARC is induced by dysplastic cells in the early stage of cancerization, and may improve survival capability, but is not involved in malignancy. SPARC may act to escape from elimination by cell competition.
authors.affiliation: Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan. yamada.tomohiro.733@m.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505, Japan.
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sasabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015676:Osteonectin / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015676:Osteonectin; C577241:SPARC protein, human
keywords: Carcinogenesis; Dysplasia; Leukoplakia; Oral cancer; SPARC