Expression of toll-like receptors in HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma--an in vivo and in vitro study.
The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has increased over the past decades in many western countries. This trend is mainly attributed to the human papillomavirus (HPV). Cancer-related actions of immunological defense systems are being intensively researched. Human toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of pattern recognition receptors that participate in the immunological defense against pathogens, but their actions are also linked to cancer. The expression of TLRs in cervical epithelium alters both during the clearance of HPV infection and the HPV-induced neoplasia, but the expression of TLRs has not been studied in OPSCC. Thirty-five paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed, squamous cell carcinoma tissue specimens were analyzed for TLRs 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9 and HPV and p16 statuses. The TLR 9 expression was lower in HPV-positive tumors compared with HPV-negative tumors. TLR 7 was expressed in all cancer specimens, but elevated expression was evident in HPV and/or p16-positive tumors. The majority of p16-positive tumors did not express TLR 5, whereas its expression was stronger in p16-negative tumors. The results of in vitro analysis of five human OPSCC cell lines and one human oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line agree with the in vivo trends: low levels of TLR 5 and high levels of TLR 7 in p16-positive OPSCC. Overall, TLR 7 and 9 expression patterns are demonstrated here to relate to the HPV status in vivo and TLR 5 and 7 expression patterns to the p16 status in vivo and in vitro.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4C-4E, P.O. Box 220, FI-00029, Helsinki, Finland. lauri.jouhi@helsinki.fi.
Lauri
L
Jouhi
Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, P.O Box 21, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
Neeta
N
Datta
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4C-4E, P.O. Box 220, FI-00029, Helsinki, Finland.
Suvi
S
Renkonen
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4C-4E, P.O. Box 220, FI-00029, Helsinki, Finland.
Timo
T
Atula
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4C-4E, P.O. Box 220, FI-00029, Helsinki, Finland.
Antti
A
Mäkitie
Department of Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Tukholmankatu 8 B, P.O. Box 20, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
Caj
C
Haglund
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 700, FI-00029, Helsinki, Finland.
Abdirisak
A
Ahmed
Department of Oral Pathology, Institute of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and MediCity Research laboratory, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 2, FI-20520, Turku, Finland.
Stina
S
Syrjänen
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Department of Medical Biochemistry, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, P.O. Box 52, FI-20521, Turku, Finland.
Reidar
R
Grénman
Department of Virology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 3, P.O. Box 21, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
Eeva
E
Auvinen
Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, P.O Box 21, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
Sanna
S
Lehtonen
Department of Pathology and Oral Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 3, P.O. Box 21, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
Jaana
J
Hagström
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000378:metabolism*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004279:DNA, Viral; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
Carcinoma; HPV; Head and neck cancer; Oropharynx; Toll-like receptor; p16