Sprouty 4 expression in human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis

Background/purpose

Reviewing literature, sprouty 4 (SPRY4) has not been studied in human oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). The study aimed to examine SPRY4 expression in human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis.

Materials and methods

A total of 95 OSCCs, 10 OPMDs with malignant transformation (MT), 17 OPMDs without MT, and six normal oral mucosa (NOM) samples were recruited for immunohistochemical staining; three OSCC tissues with normal tissue counterpart NOM were employed for Western blotting. Three human oral cancer cell lines (OCCLs), an oral precancer cell line (dysplastic oral keratinocyte, DOK), and a primary culture of normal oral keratinocytes (HOK) were used for Western blotting; OCCLs and HOK were employed for real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. OCCLs were evaluated in terms of proliferation, migration, and invasion assays.

Results

SPRY4 protein expression was significantly increased in OSCCs compared with NOM. Protein and mRNA SPRY4 expression in OCCLs were significantly elevated compared with HOK. Significant increases in the degrees of proliferation, migration, and invasion were noted in OCCLs with SPRY4 siRNA transfection compared with those without transfection. SPRY4 protein level was increased in OPMD with MT compared to OPMD without MT. SPRY4 protein was significant increase in DOK in comparison with HOK. SPRY4 protein expression was significantly increased from NOM and OPMD without MT to OSCC. SPRY4 protein expression in OCCLs was significantly enhanced compared with DOK and HOK respectively.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that SPRY4 expression is possibly involved in human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis.

Overexpression of transient receptor potential melastatin 6 during human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis

Background/purpose

Transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) channel is involved in cell proliferation and cell survival. Eight members (TRPM1-8) are within the TRPM subfamily. The current study is aimed to investigate TRPM6 expression in human oral carcinogenesis.

Materials and methods

Sixty-six oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs), 47 oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) with moderate-severe epithelial dysplasia (ED), 28 OPMD with mild ED, and 33 normal oral mucosa (NOM) samples were subjected to immunohistochemical staining. Two human oral cancer cell lines (OCCLs), an oral premalignant cell line (DOK), and a normal oral keratinocyte culture (HOK) were used for Western blot analysis. OCCLs were evaluated for proliferation, migration, invasion assays, and intracellular calcium concentration.

Results

TRPM6 protein expression in OSCC was significantly increased as compared with normal samples. Protein expression of TRPM6 in OCCLs was significantly higher as compared with HOK. Significant decreases in degrees of proliferation, migration, invasion, and intracellular calcium concentration were noted in OCCLs with TRPM6 siRNA transfection as compared with those without transfection. Significantly increased TRPM6 protein level was noted in OPMD with moderate-severe ED as compared with those with mild ED.

Conclusion

Our results implicate that TRPM6 overexpression is potentially related to human oral carcinogenesis.

Expression of Orai1 and STIM1 in human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis

Background/purpose

Return of Ca²⁺ to endoplasmic reticulum is mediated by Orai/STIM-mediated store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) channel. We aimed to investigate Orai1 and STIM1 expressions in human oral carcinogenesis.

Materials and methods

Sixty-six oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs), 14 oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) with moderate-severe oral epithelial dysplasia (OED), 19 OPMD with mild OED, and 14 normal oral mucosa (NOM) samples were subjected to immunohistochemical staining. Two human oral cancer cell lines (OCCLs), an oral premalignant cell line (DOK), and a normal oral keratinocyte culture (HOK) were used for Western blot and real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. OCCLs were evaluated for proliferation, migration, and invasion assays.

Results

Orai1 and STIM1 protein and mRNA expressions in OSCC were significantly enhanced as compared with normal samples. Protein expressions of Orai1 and STIM1 in OCCLs were significantly enhanced as compared with HOK. Significant decreases in degrees of proliferation, migration and invasion were noted in OCCLs with Orai1 and STIM1 siRNA transfection as compared with those without transfection. Significantly increased Orai1 and STIM1 protein levels were noted in OPMD with moderate-severe OED as compared with those with mild OED.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that Orai1 and STIM1 overexpression is associated with human oral carcinogenesis.

Overexpression of sprouty 1 protein in human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis

Abstract Background/purpose

Sprouty (SPRY) has four isoforms, SPRY1–4, and its deficiency produces haphazard ‘sprouting’ of tracheal tubules. This study investigated SPRY1 protein expression in human oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).

Materials and methods

90 OSCCs, 10 OPMDs with malignant transformation (MT), 17 OPMDs without MT, and six normal oral mucosa (NOM) tissue samples were subjected to immunohistochemical staining. Three human oral cancer cell lines (OCCLs), an oral precancer cell line (DOK), and a primary culture of normal oral keratinocytes (HOK) were used for western blotting.

Results

Significantly increased expression of SPRY1 protein from NOM and OPMD without MT to OSCC was observed. The protein expressions of SPRY1 in OCCLs were significantly enhanced as compared with DOK and HOK. Increased phosphor/total-ERK expression was observed in OCCLs as compared with HOK. A significantly increased SPRY1 protein level was noted in OPMDs with MT as compared with those without MT, in addition to a significant increase in DOK in comparison with HOK.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that overexpression of SPRY1 protein is potentially associated with human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis.

Frostbite of the upper extremity

Human capacity for physiologic adaptation to cold is minimal; we survive by insulating ourselves with protective clothing. In addition to the irreversible direct injury caused by ice crystallization, the authors have outlined four possible mechanisms by which indirect injury may damage tissue. Other than rapid rewarming, there is no uniformly accepted protocol for the treatment of frostbite injury. Attempting to sort out the world's literature on frostbite in an effort to present a comprehensive treatment protocol is a daunting task. In addition to the probably irreversible direct injury caused by ice crystallization, the authors have outlined at least four possible mechanisms by which indirect injury may damage tissue. The literature is full of various treatment protocols that allegedly are beneficial despite addressing different mechanisms. Mills described 10 different categories of medications, each addressing one of four possible mechanisms, used in the clinical treatment of frostbite injury over a 30-year period. Analyzing this information is even more confusing when one realizes that there is little uniformity in animal models employed to generate these data. This is further complicated by the lack of clinical correlation with the most common experimental model--liquid nitrogen rapid freezing. The risk of frostbite is highest when psychiatric disturbance, intoxication, or unplanned circumstances lead to cold exposure without adequate protective clothing. As tissue freezes, both direct and indirect factors cause injury. Most therapies have been aimed at limiting indirect injury, in an attempt to limit progressive tissue loss. Rapid rewarming is universally accepted, but the benefits of other modalities are still controversial. Traditionally, observation and delayed amputation have been employed to manage frostbite. More recently, triple-phase bone scans have been used to distinguish between tissue that is irreversibly destined for necrosis and tissue that is at-risk for necrosis, but potentially salvageable. Early operation can be used to provide at-risk tissue with a new blood supply and preserve both function and length in the upper extremity.

The 5' untranslated regions of the rat A2A adenosine receptor gene function as negative translational regulators

The rat A2A adenosine receptor (A2A-R) gene contains two promoters, P1 and P2, which produce transcript 1 and transcript 2, respectively. These transcripts differ in the lengths of their 5' untranslated regions (5'UTR1: 514 bp, initiated from P1; 5'UTR2: 221 bp, initiated from P2) but encode the same protein. In the present study, we demonstrate that transcript 2 is present in various tissues at different levels, whereas transcript 1 is found only in the striatum. In the striatum, the level of transcript 2 is approximately 300-fold higher than that of transcript 1. The 5'UTR of both transcripts suppresses the expression of A2A-R and a firefly luciferase reporter gene at the translational level; this suppression is not observed after mutational inactivation of an "out-of-frame" upstream AUG codon. Translational suppression by the 5'UTR was also confirmed in cells using a bicistronic strategy. Collectively, these data suggest that P2 is the major promoter of the rat A2A-R gene. The 5'UTR of the rat A2A-R gene exerts an inhibitory effect on translation by an upstream open reading frame. Because the 5'UTR of the A2A-R gene possesses strong interspecies homology, translational suppression may be a general mechanism by which the expression of the A2A-R gene is regulated.

The problem scar

Through deeper understanding of the physiology of wound healing and physico-chemical principles of scarring, biomedical science facilitates the development of new strategies in treatment and prevention of problem scars. It is important for practicing physicians and surgeons to be better aware of the full range of available techniques to control scar formation, and for any medical intervention to be planned in such a way that potential problems are apprehended and minimized or avoided. This article describes the clinical applications of recent research in scar control in order to provide such guidance.

Prediction of adverse perinatal outcome by maternal serum screening for Down syndrome in an Asian population

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between adverse perinatal outcomes and abnormal elevations of serum marker levels (alpha-fetoprotein [AFP] and free beta-hCG) or a false-positive screen for Down syndrome.

METHODS

Pregnancy outcome information was available for 5885 Taiwanese women under 35 years of age who had second-trimester maternal serum screening for Down syndrome, using AFP and free beta-hCG, and delivered a chromosomally normal fetus. Those with AFP at least 2.0 multiples of the median (MoM), free beta-hCG at least 2.5 MoM, or a false-positive screen (risk ratio at least 1:270) were identified, and the risk for adverse perinatal outcome was assessed.

RESULTS

A serum AFP level at least 2.0 MoM (n = 176, 3.0%) was significantly associated with the occurrence of preterm delivery, low Apgar scores, small-for-gestational-age infants, low birth weight or very low birth weight, fetal death, premature rupture of membranes, oligohydramnios, and a higher incidence of perinatal mortality. A serum free beta-hCG level at least 2.5 MoM (n = 416, 7.1%) was significantly associated with low birth weight, an abnormally adherent placenta, and the occurrence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid. A higher incidence of fetal structural anomalies other than neural tube or abdominal wall defects, large-for-gestational-age infants, and postpartum hemorrhage was observed for a calculated risk of at least 1:270 (n = 311, 5.3%) independent of the other biochemical markers.

CONCLUSION

Asian women with unexplained elevations of serum AFP or free beta-hCG, or a false-positive screen for Down syndrome are at increased risk for various adverse perinatal outcomes. Careful fetal ultrasound examination and thoughtful strategy for perinatal management are warranted for these patients.

Silicone implants and the inhibition of cancer

The safety of augmentation mammaplasty and its relationship to breast cancer has been a much debated topic. The authors previously showed a decreased incidence of breast cancer in rats who had received silicone implants 2 weeks before carcinogen stimulation. The present study was designed to determine (1) whether this protective effect is influenced by the location of the implant, and (2) whether tumor incidence could also be altered in spontaneous mammary tumor-forming animals, the C3H/OuJ mice. (1) A total of 110 rats received either a silicone implant or a sham operation in one of three locations: inframammary region, dorsum, or intraperitoneal cavity. Methylnitrosoured (MNU) injections occurred 14 days after implantation. Animals were examined weekly for tumor growth and were killed 250 days after MNU injection. Animals with silicone implants beneath the mammary gland had a statistically significant lower incidence of breast cancer formation (11.5 percent) compared with both dorsally implanted animals (45.8 percent) and sham controls (64 percent). (2) Sixty C3H/OuJ mice underwent implantation of either a silicone implant, free silicone gel, silicone sheet, or a sham operation. At 50 weeks of age, after weekly examinations, the animals were killed. The cancer incidence in mice with silicone implants was 17 percent compared with 50 percent found in sham controls. Exposure to a silicone prosthesis at an early age does not seem to increase tumor incidence and may even have a locally protective effect against breast cancer formation.