The activity and tissue distribution of thioredoxin reductase in basal cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most prevalent cancer worldwide. Different mechanisms are proposed to be involved in its pathogenesis such as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, which is the consequence of the disruption of redox balance in favor of oxidants, is involved in the initiation or progression of many tumors. Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a key enzyme of the thioredoxin (Trx) system, containing Trx and TrxR and NADPH, which is one of the main cellular oxidoreductases with an essential role in cellular health and survival through providing and maintaining redox balance. Therefore, we aimed to study and compare the activity and tissue distribution of TrxR in tumoral tissue and its healthy margin in patients with BCC.


METHODS
After biopsy and taking samples from 18 patients, TrxR activity was measured using a commercial kit and its tissue distribution was assessed immunohistochemically.


RESULTS
Both the activity and tissue distribution of TrxR in tumoral tissues were significantly higher compared to their healthy margins. Regarding the tissue distribution, this significant increase in TrxR in tumoral tissues was documented based on both staining intensity and abundance of positive cells in immunohistochemistry.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these results, it is concluded that TrxR is involved in the pathogenesis of BCC; however, more investigations are required to clarify whether this increase is a consequence of BCC or it is an initiating mechanism.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Maryam
M
Sobhani
Department of Dermatology, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Ahmad-Reza
AR
Taheri
Department of Pathology, Qaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Amir-Hossein
AH
Jafarian
Surgical Oncology Research Centre, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. hashemyi@mums.ac.ir.
Seyed Isaac
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1323-5250
SI
Hashemy
D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D013880:Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase / Q000378:metabolism*
D013880:Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase
Basal cell carcinoma; Cancer; Oxidative stress; Thioredoxin reductase