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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Phospholipid Mediator Induced Transformation in Three-Dimensional Cultures
Published on: July 27, 2022
Alpha v beta 6 integrin down-regulates the MMP-13 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells
M Ylipalosaari1, G J Thomas, M Nystrom
1Department of Diagnostics and Oral Medicine, Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, PO Box 5281, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland.
Abstract:
The integrin alphavbeta6, a receptor for fibronectin, vitronectin, tenascin and TGF-beta latency-associated peptide (LAP), is not detectable on normal oral epithelium but is neo-expressed in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) and epithelial dysplasia. Previously it has been shown that alphavbeta6 integrin can up-regulate MMP-3 and -9 expression in OSCC cells. Using beta6-transfected and control OSCC cells we demonstrate that alphavbeta6 integrin down-regulates MMP-13 expression at both mRNA and protein level. Although expressing less MMP-13, beta6-transfected cells were found to have similar collagenolytic activity as control cells and invade at similar levels through type I collagen. Growth of the tumour cells in organotypic culture and confocal microscopy confirmed low levels of MMP-13 in cells with high alphavbeta6 expression. Furthermore, human squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue with high expression of alphavbeta6 showed lower MMP-13 levels than carcinomas with low levels of alphavbeta6. Our results suggest that alphavbeta6 down-regulates MMP-13 expression in OSCC cells and that MMP-13 is not essential for the degradation of type I collagen by OSCC cells.
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