Expression of the serine protease DESC1 correlates directly with normal keratinocyte differentiation and inversely with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression. Head Neck 2006 May;28(5):432-40
Date
12/02/2005Pubmed ID
16320362DOI
10.1002/hed.20346Scopus ID
2-s2.0-33646339382 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 25 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: As part of ongoing studies aimed at identifying the molecular events involved in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression, we recently isolated a novel serine protease, DESC1. This study was conducted to further characterize DESC1.
METHODS: Specimens of normal, dysplastic, and carcinomatous oropharyngeal mucosa (n = 31) were evaluated for DESC1 immunoreactivity using standard streptavidin-biotin immunoperoxidase techniques. Between-lesion stain intensity values were analyzed using multiple Wilcoxon tests. DESC1 expression was also evaluated in cultured human keratinocytes after induction of differentiation by calcium challenge, with subsequent real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction quantification.
RESULTS: DESC1 immunoreactivity decreased as lesions approached a malignant phenotype. Post hoc testing comparing the different lesion types and DESC1 staining values showed significance between "normal" and "carcinoma" (p = .0017) groups. Induction of normal keratinocyte differentiation by calcium challenge was accompanied by an increase in DESC1 expression (p = .002).
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest downregulation of DESC1 during squamous cell carcinoma progression and upregulation during normal epithelial differentiation.
Author List
Sedghizadeh PP, Mallery SR, Thompson SJ, Kresty L, Beck FM, Parkinson EK, Biancamano J, Lang JCMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAged
Aged, 80 and over
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Case-Control Studies
Cell Differentiation
Female
Humans
Keratinocytes
Male
Middle Aged
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms
Precancerous Conditions
RNA, Messenger
Respiratory Mucosa
Serine Endopeptidases
