title: Evaluation of the p-AKT, p-JNK and FoxO3a function in oral epithelial dysplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the expression of p-AKT, p-JNK, FoxO3a, and Ki-67 in samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral epithelial dysplasias (OEDs) to understand their possible involvement in the malignant transformation process of oral lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue samples of 20 cases of OSCCs, 20 OEDs, and normal oral mucosa were subjected to immunohistochemistry reactions for anti-p-AKT, anti-p-JNK, anti-FoxO3a, and anti-Ki-67 antibodies. It was analyzed using quantitative (number of immunostained cells) and qualitative (immunostaining intensity) parameters in different cell immunostaining sublocations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nuclear p-AKT was observed significantly greater immunostaining in OSCC (21.2 ± 19.0) than in dysplasias (7.9 ± 8.1) and controls (1.8 ± 4.7) (P = 0.002). Immunostaining of strong nuclear p-JNK was greater in controls (48.3 ± 13.7) than in OEDs (11.0 ± 10.3) and OSCCs (1.1 ± 1.3) (P < 0.001). Strong nuclear immunostaining of FoxO3a proved to be absent in OSCCs (0.0 ± 0.1) with little staining on dysplasias (3.2 ± 5.4) and increased expression in controls (13.5 ± 4.8) (P < 0.001). Immunostaining of strong nuclear Ki-67 was grater in OSCCs (48.1 ± 49.6) than in OED (11.8 ± 10.6) and controls (1.9 ± 2.0) (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malignant process of OEDs in this research may involve the same mechanisms of established malignant lesions.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Federal University of Ceara/Sobral, Sobral, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Dental Clinic, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tmm
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Dental Clinic, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: P G
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1513-9027
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: de Barros Silva
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Dental Clinic, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Faf
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Dental Clinic, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Dental Clinic, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fwg
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Dental Clinic, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Apnn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Federal University of Ceara/Sobral, Sobral, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kma
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2880-6466
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000071316:Forkhead Box Protein O3 / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C499517:FOXO3 protein, human; D000071316:Forkhead Box Protein O3; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: FoxO3a; immunohistochemistry; oral epithelial dysplasia; oral squamous cell carcinoma; p-AKT; p-JNK