Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols
Published on: June 6, 2017
Expression of cell cycle regulator p16 is not affected by diabetes during oral oncogenesis
Eleftherios Vairaktaris1, Lambros Goutzanis, Emeka Nkenke
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Athens 11521, Greece. lvairakt@med.uoa.gr
Background:
The tumor suppressor protein p16 plays a vital role in the regulation of the cell cycle. The expression of p16 was investigated in an experimental model of chemically induced carcinogenesis in normal and diabetic (type I) Sprague-Dawley rats.
Materials And Methods:
Tissue sections ranging from normal oral mucosa to moderately differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were studied immunohistochemically.
Results:
In normal rats p16 expression increased gradually during oral oncogenesis, but a significant increase was observed only in moderately differentiated OSCC (p=0.038). On the contrary, in diabetic rats the detected gradual increase was significant in hyperplasia, dysplasia, early invasion and well-differentiated OSCC (p<0.001). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in p16 expression during oral oncogenesis between normal and diabetic animals.
Conclusion:
It seems that the expression of cell cycle regulator p16 is not affected by diabetes in the studied animal model of oral oncogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
Abnormal Proliferation
Inhibition of Cdk Activity
Negative Regulator Molecules
DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle
Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...

