Immunohistochemical expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) in normal oral mucosa, oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Molecular Biomarkers of Malignant Transformation in Head and Neck Dysplasia

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and its treatments are associated with substantial morbidity, often resulting in cosmetic deformity and loss of physiologic functions including speech and swallowing. Despite advancements in treatment, 5-year survival rates for mucosal malignancies remain below 70%. Effective prevention of HNSCC demands an understanding of the molecular pathways of carcinogenesis. Specifically, defining features of pre-cancerous dysplastic lesions that indicate a better or worse prognosis is necessary to help identify patients who are likely to develop a carcinoma and allow a more aggressive approach to management. There remains a need for identification of biomarkers that can provide both early prognostic and predictive value in clinical decision-making by serving as both therapeutic targets as well as predictors of therapy response. Here, we comprehensively review the most frequently altered molecular biomarkers of malignant transformation in head and neck dysplasia. These markers are involved in a wide range of cellular processes in head and neck carcinogenesis, including extracellular matrix degradation, cell motility and invasion, cell-cell adhesion, solute transport, immortalization, metabolism, the cell cycle and apoptosis, transcription, and cell signaling.

Inhibition of EMMPRIN by microRNA-124 suppresses the growth, invasion and tumorigenicity of gliomas

MicroRNAs (miR) are a group of non-coding, small RNAs, 18-20 nucleotides in length, that are frequently involved in the development of a variety of different types of cancer, including glioma, which is a type of severe tumor in the brain. Previous studies reported that miR-124 levels were downregulated in glioma specimens; however, the potential role of miR-124 in glioma currently remains unclear. The present study performed experiments, including dual-luciferase reporter assay (DLRA), MTT assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry, with the aim of elucidating the molecular mechanism of miR-124 in glioma. The results indicated that miR-124 expression was decreased in glioma tissues, accompanied by the increased expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN). The expression of EMMPRIN was inhibited by miR-124 transfection. The DLRA results revealed that EMMPRIN directly targets miR-124. Furthermore, upon overexpression of miR-124 in the U87 cells, cell proliferation was significantly inhibited, apoptosis was increased, and cell migration and invasion were decreased. Furthermore, tumor growth was blocked by miR-124 in mice. Based on these results, the present study concluded that miR-124 is critical for amelioration of glioma by targeting EMMPRIN, thereby acting as a tumor suppressor. Thus, miR-124/EMMPRIN constitutes a plausible basis for the treatment of glioma.

Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer expression in histological grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma - An immunohistochemical study

Background:

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of head-and-neck cancer. It is a complex and relentless malignancy prone to local invasion and dissemination. An insight into the molecular alterations associated with metastasis will provide critical insights into the fundamental mechanisms underlying its progression and further contribute to improvements in the clinical management of H and N cancer patients. Hence, identifying specific biomarkers would pave the way for early detection and prognosis of OSCC. Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) is a membrane-bound glycoprotein found on the surface of tumor cells. It plays a central role in the promotion of tumor invasion, progression and metastasis as it upregulates matrix metalloproteinases secreted from adjacent fibroblasts. There is a paucity of studies on the expression of EMMPRIN in OSCC.

Objectives:

The aim is to assess the immunohistochemical expression of EMMPRIN in OSCC and to compare it with the clinicopathological parameters and histological grades of OSCC.

Materials and Methods:

Thirty histopathologically diagnosed cases of OSCC were included in the study. The slides were immunohistochemically analyzed for EMMPRIN expression and correlated with the clinicopathological parameters and histological grades of OSCC.

Results:

EMMPRIN expression was noted in all 30 cases of OSCC. Strong EMMPRIN expression was noted in the advanced clinical stages of OSCC. Higher histological grades of OSCC exhibited strong EMMPRIN expression.

Conclusion:

EMMPRIN overexpression indicates that this protein could be used as an important biological prognostic marker to identify high-risk OSCC patients.

Expression of cellular adherent and invasive molecules in recurrent ovarian endometriosis

Objective

This study aimed to examine expression of cellular adhesion molecules and metalloproteinases of the extracellular matrix in ectopic endometrium for evaluating their roles in recurrence of endometriosis.

Methods

This study retrospectively analyzed 49 female patients (mean age: 30.1±5.5 years) with endometriomas who had undergone two separate operations. After a maximum follow-up of 80 months, all participants were divided into the recurrent group or nonrecurrent (control) group. Samples were immunostained for epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), β-catenin, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2, and extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN).

Results

In the recurrent group, E-cadherin concentrations in the membrane and cytoplasm of ectopic endometrial glandular cells were significantly reduced, while those of MMP-9 and EMMPRIN were higher than those in the control group. Additionally, uPA concentrations in the membrane and cytoplasm of ectopic endometrial glandular, stromal, and vascular endothelial cells were significantly higher in the recurrent group than in the control group. Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and β-catenin concentrations were similar between the groups.

Conclusion

E-cadherin, MMP-9, and associated factors may contribute to development of endometriosis. E-cadherin, MMP-9, and uPA may act as potential markers for detection of recurrence of endometriosis.

Increased expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) and MMP10, MMP23 in inflammatory bowel disease: Cross-sectional study

It has been reported that EMMPRIN is involved in the regulation of immune response and the induction of MMPs production by fibroblasts. The aim of this study was to describe the intestinal gene expression and protein production of EMMPRIN, MMP23 and MMP10 in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) and compared them with a control group. Gene expression of EMMPRIN, MMP10 and MMP23B was measured by RT-PCR. In order to determine EMMPRIN and MMP protein expression, colonic tissues were immunostained. The results of the study showed EMMPRIN gene expression was upregulated in rectal mucosa from active (a)UC versus aCD patients (P = .045), remission (r)CD group (P = .0009) and controls (P < .0001). We detected differences between rUC and aCD (P = .004), rCD (P < .0001) or control group (P < .0001). EMMPRIN showed a higher expression in mucosa (intraepithelial lymphocytes), submucosa and adventitia (endothelial cells) from aCD patients. MMP23 levels were increased in aUC and aCD compared to rUC and rCD and the control group (P = .0001). EMMPRIN+/MMP23+─expressing cells were localized mainly in mucosa, muscular and adventitia from active UC patients. MMP10 gene expression was increased in aUC versus CD patients and the control group (P = .0001). MMP10 gene expression is associated with inflammation in UC patients (P = .0001, r²  = .585). EMMPRIN+/MMP10+─producing cells were found mainly in all intestinal layers and perivascular inflammatory infiltrates from aUC patients. In conclusion, EMMPRIN, MMP23 and MMP10 were upregulated in patients with active UC versus remission UC , CD and control groups suggesting that, they are involved in the inflammatory process.

CD147 Is a Promising Target of Tumor Progression and a Prognostic Biomarker

Microenvironment plays a crucial role in tumor development and progression. Cancer cells modulate the tumor microenvironment, which also contribute to resistance to therapy. Identifying biomarkers involved in tumorigenesis and cancer progression represents a great challenge for cancer diagnosis and therapeutic strategy development. CD147 is a glycoprotein involved in the regulation of the tumor microenvironment and cancer progression by several mechanisms—in particular, by the control of glycolysis and also by its well-known ability to induce proteinases leading to matrix degradation, tumor cell invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the role of CD147 expression in tumor progression and prognosis, suggesting it as a relevant tumor biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, as well as validating its potential as a promising therapeutic target in cancers.