Similar expression pattern of NHERF1 and EZRIN in papillary but not in solid areas of human serous ovarian carcinomas.
NHERF1 is an adaptor protein expressed in the apical membrane of polarized epithelia, which interacts with the EZRIN-Radixin-Moesin (ERM) family of proteins connecting signaling pathways to the cell cytoskeleton. NHERF1 and EZRIN cooperate in the maintenance of the apical microvilli in polarized epithelial cells. In several types of cancers, NHERF1 and EZRIN are displaced from the apical compartment to the cytoplasm and nuclei of cancer cells. At the present, the distribution of NHERF1 in ovarian tumors is not well known. In this study, NHERF1 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in cyst adenofibromas, serous borderline tumors, and serous ovarian carcinomas. We observed a strong staining of NHERF1 and EZRIN at the membrane level of borderline tumors and areas of papillary structures in ovarian carcinomas. In tumors without papillary structures and compact structure, NHERF1 was exclusively expressed in the apical pole of the cells at the edges of the clefts of luminal spaces. In contrast, positive expression of EZRIN was found in the membrane of tumor cells within the solid tumor where NHERF1 was not expressed. In summary, this study shows, for the first time, the distribution of NHERF1 in ovarian cancer and reveals a different regulation of NHERF1 and EZRIN expression in ovarian tumors which represents the complexity of the molecular changes of this disease.
National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Department of Radiobiology, Av. General Paz 1499 (1650), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: brendadema@gmail.com.
Brenda
B
Demacopulo
Private Diagnostic Pathology Laboratory, Anchorena 1510 Capital Federal (1425) C.A.B.A., Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: laboratorioslema@gmail.com.
Baltazar Eduardo
BE
Lema
National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Department of Radiobiology, Av. General Paz 1499 (1650), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina; School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Department of Oral Pathology, Marcelo T. de Alvear 2142, (C1122AAH) C.A.B.A., Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: romulocabrini@fibertel.com.ar.
Rómulo Luis
RL
Cabrini
National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Department of Radiobiology, Av. General Paz 1499 (1650), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: ekreimann@gmail.com.
Erica Lorena
EL
Kreimann
D000328:Adult; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099149:Ezrin
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; D000099149:Ezrin; C093376:sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor
Apical localization; EZRIN; NHERF1; Ovarian cancer; Papillary differentiation